Born and raised in Kazakhstan, Zaha relocated to New York, where her diverse cultural background and life experiences continue to shape her artistic vision.

Always drawn to storytelling, she studied journalism and social studies before transitioning into filmmaking. Deeply influenced by visual arts and literature, Zaha incorporates their poetic sensibilities into her work, crafting narratives rich in emotion and introspection.

Her films often explore themes of identity, transformation, and displacement, reflecting her own immigrant experience in New York. 

Her still-life photography was featured by Fotografiska New York and Fotografiska Stolkholm as part of Stop Motion Series. Zaha’s short film, "Marie, my first" was selected for the "New York Shorts Film Festival'', “Blow-Up Arthouse Film Fest · Chicago'', “NewFilmmakers NY” and “NY Lift-Off Film Festival”

In 2022, Zaha began her graduate studies in Cinema Arts at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Brooklyn College.

For booking and inquiries: zaha.alieva@gmail.com

View my IMDb page here