Shakti - Director Nani Sahra Walker

Shakti is the narrative film debut of Nani Sahra Walker. A single mother, Durga, enrolls her young daughter, Lila, in a private painting class, in order to keep her out of trouble. However, when Lila’s behavior drastically changes and falls ill, she and Durga begin to confront their shared trauma. All this unfolds in the midst of social and political change – particularly surrounding women’s rights – in Nepal. Set in Kathmandu, Nepal – a country that recently elected its first female prime minister – the story unfolds against a backdrop of social and political change, as conversations about women’s rights are increasingly prominent. But behind closed doors is often a different reality.

About the filmmaker - The award-winning Shakti is Walker’s debut narrative feature. Walker (Other Nature) previously won an Academy Award as an executive producer of The Last Repair Shop, and she teaches documentary filmmaking at UC Berkeley.