During WWII in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, a Muslim woman risks everything to save her Jewish friends. 50 years later the tables have turned. Inspired by a true story.

Interview with Writer/Producer/Director Sabina Vajrača

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! As someone who’s experienced the trauma of war and the negative effects of “othering” first-hand, I know how damaging tribalism can be. I made this film to remind us to look beyond the confines of religion, ethnicity, race, politics, and other labels we tend to live by, in hopes that it can inspire us all to tap into our common, shared humanity instead.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you’re feeling defeated and depressed by the news lately, and are starting to believe the world is going to hell and there’s nothing any of us can do to change it, come be inspired by this true story of two ordinary women defying the odds, and proving that even in the thick of it, goodness can still prevail if we each choose humanity above all.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

This is a very small, personal story, about two families - one Muslim, one Jewish - who risk everything to save one another in times when hatred and fear paralyze the world around them into inertion and tribalism. It proves one of my personal tenets and (I believe) a universal Truth - that goodness begets goodness, and that, therefore, we all need to focus on the goodness within, even (or especially) when evil seems to reign all around us.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

After the script won the Claims Conference grant, I did rewrites based on their notes, as well as those of my script consultant Richard Kletter, who was invaluable in its journey from script to screen. Once we were in prep, I worked with the actors to smooth any last-minute hiccups, and then eventually with my editor Sasa Pesevski, to make it sing in post. I’m immensely grateful to all of them for helping me make this film as powerful as it is.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The film won numerous prizes during its festival run, including audience awards, jury prizes, and the Humanitas Prize, which was the biggest honor of my career so far. It was also a contender at the 2024 Academy Awards. But to me, the most valuable feedback has been from the audiences, who have been raving about it at every festival we screened. I make my films for ordinary people - to provoke them to think beyond their knee-jerk biases - so hearing that Sevap/Mitzvah is having just such an effect, makes me happy beyond words.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The message in my films is extremely important to me. What am I saying, and why? And is it in line with my view of the world, my values, my beliefs? I question this throughout writing, filming, and editing, making sure we stay focused on its central message. So once the film is out there, I merely watch to see who heard it. Who was moved by it? And who might have even changed their points of view because of it? That last bit is my biggest goal as a filmmaker - to inspire people to shift their perspectives if they find the ones they had were limiting in any way. I aim to do that too, on a personal level, every day.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

This is the first of my films to play in Cannes, and I’d love for as many people who’ll be there to hear of it through your platform and come see it. Thank you for this great opportunity!

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We’re wrapping up its festival run, and are currently looking for distribution, so distributors, buyers, and sales agents are our main priority. I’m also turning it into a feature, so any financiers/investors who’d love to hear this message amplified on a bigger platform, are more than welcome to contact me as well.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

My wish for this film is to inspire everyone who sees it to prioritize their inner goodness and humanity. We are all born with it, we just become conditioned to see it as a weakness and/or something to hide. But if we all trusted that part of us more, we could shift this world for the better. I firmly believe that, and hope this film proves to anyone who watches it that it is possible.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

In times of war, or even extreme polarization/protests that can lead to violence, would you be willing to risk your life/safety to save a person from the “other side” if you saw their life was in danger? If not, why not? What if we’re talking about a child? Would that make a difference? And what needs to happen/change so your answer becomes an unequivocal yes?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Other than turning this story into a feature screenplay, I have two other features in the development/financing phase: For Buraz - a Neo-Noir Crime Drama set in the Bosnian-American immigrant community in Florida. And Summer Abroad - a Supernatural Thriller/Horror about two American girls who end up in a haunted hotel in eastern Bosnia. My producing partner Tea Nicola and I are in Cannes seeking partners to come on board for any and all of them.

Interview: May 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Sevap/Mitzvah

During WWII in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, a Muslim woman risks everything to save her Jewish friends. 50 years later the tables have turned. Inspired by a true story.

Length: 20:06

Director: Sabina Vajrača

Producer: Kerim Mašović, Sabina Vajrača

Writer: Sabina Vajrača

About the writer, director and producer:

SABINA VAJRAČA is a Bosnian-American director/writer whose work includes theatre, commercials, shorts, and features, which collectively screened at 60+ festivals worldwide. A winner of numerous awards, including the Humanitas Prize, the DGA SF Grand Prize, the Claims Conference grant, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant, and nominations for the Student BAFTA and Student Oscars, Sabina received her M.F.A. from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and is repped by Zero Gravity and GGSSC.

KERIM MAŠOVIĆ founded Kontraplan in 2019 with his frequent collaborators Neven Samardzic and Sasa Pesevski. Some of the films he worked on include Death In Sarajevo (Silver Bear & FIPRESCI Prize, 2016 Berlinale), Full Moon (2020 European Film Award nominee), and Majnuni, which premiered at 2021 Slamdance. Most recently he produced Sabina Vajraca’s OSCAR®-qualified short film Sevap/Mitzvah, which screened at 20+ festivals and won 10 awards, including the Humanitas Prize.

Key cast: Helena Vukovic (Zejneba Hardaga), Magdalena Zivaljic-Tadic (Rifka Kabiljo), Adnan Haskovic (Mustafa Hardaga), Frano Maskovic (Josef Kabiljo)

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers, journalists

Facebook: Sabina Vajrača

Instagram: @sabinalovestrees

Hashtags used: #sevap, #mitzvah, #jewish, #muslim, #truestory, #sarajevo, #bosnia

Website: Sabina Vajrača

Other: IMDb

Funders:

The film was funded by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), with support from La Benevolencija Sarajevo, Academy of Cinematic Arts Sarajevo, Foundation for Cinematography Sarajevo, Ministry of Culture and Sport KS, private donors, and fiscal sponsor Academy of Bosnia and Herzegovina Inc.

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

American Pavilion Showcase at Cannes / Cannes, France - May 22, 2024;
Toronto Jewish Film Festival / Toronto, Canada - June 2-3, 2024;
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia / Tokyo, Japan - June 9, 2024