Seeking the Creative: Sara Bourjjai, Director and Photographer

Salwa Shuman, VMA Major, Co-Founder of Jameelat. Sara Bourjjai, Miss Ingenious. CREDIT: Sara Bourjjai

How would you describe your art in three words?

Limitless, Substantial, Genuine.

Sara Bourjjai, a 19 year old from Everett, Massachusetts, uses her talents of visual media to convey the authenticity of culture and community. At 15 years old, Sara discovered her passion for filmmaking and currently studies at Emerson College as a Visual Media Arts Student. Sara is inspired by the untold stories found within the people that surround her. Most recently, the 19 year old directed her first docu-series, “Miss Ingenious,” a project about the role of young women pursuing careers in the arts. She’s only just begun her journey as a film-maker, and additionally spends time photographing the moments that can lead to a larger story. This young creator has a knack of finding the hidden gems we may overlook, and shines them to light through incredible direction and vision.

Where/how do you gather inspiration?

Life astonishes me. Our paths are constantly in motion, so we rarely even notice each other — but we all have a narrative that is our own. Every single person you see is carrying a whole lifetime of stories within their very being. Whether it’s lighthearted, painful, or any emotion really, it’s worth being told. It’s not just about capturing a shot — pausing to see life unfold is truly what makes me feel grounded in my work, and I love sharing that sense of emotion with others.

What do you hope audiences retain from your work?

It’s crazy how attached you can be to a story or characters you see onscreen — films have always been able to reach a deeply heartfelt level within me. I want people to feel the same love I have for this type of media, and become uplifted enough to start telling stories too.