Maja was born in Croatia in 1961. She studied and graduated Law at the University of Zagreb in 1986. The same year she moved to the United States. Settling in New York City, she studied film at the New York University. In 1991, Maja directed a documentary Larry Wright. The film was picked up by PBS and shown at the American national television and many European television stations. After this initial success, Maja received two grants from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for her films. "The Rhythm of Life" played on festivals and received special honors for Black music at the Leipzig Film Festival in Germany. In 1997, Maja returned to Croatia and worked as a TV reporter, freelance cameramen and documentary director.

filmography: documentary films: The Bridge | MOST --- 33'/ Factum/ 2001 Happy Oblivion | SRETNA NIGDINA--- 28'/ Factum/ 2000 The Mission Place | MISIJA --- 45'/ 1996 The Rhythm of Life | RITAM ZIVOTA --- 30'/ 1994 Larry Wright | LARRY WRIGHT --- 30'/ 1991 other: Remember Yugoslavia | SJETI SE JUGOSLAVIJE --- 1994 (exhibition) The Untitled by Anonymous | BEZIMENI --- 7'/ 1992 (experimental) Resident Alien | STRANAC --- 5'/ 1989 (science fiction)