Shakti
When her mischievous daughter falls mysteriously ill, a single mother is drawn into Kathmandu's supernatural underworld of shamans and secrets, where resilience may be their only path to redemption.
When her mischievous daughter falls mysteriously ill, a single mother is drawn into Kathmandu's supernatural underworld of shamans and secrets, where resilience may be their only path to redemption.
Durga, a divorced Dalit woman, works tirelessly to protect her family and anchor her mischievous nine-year-old daughter, Lila. Seeking a positive outlet for Lila’s restless energy, Durga enrolls her in a local art academy. Lila displays a natural brilliance for painting, but the creative sanctuary quickly darkens. A series of unsettling events and a sudden, mysterious illness grip the young girl, throwing the household into panic.
Desperate for answers, Durga uncovers a chilling reality hidden behind the school's doors. Propelled by rage and maternal instinct, she demands accountability, only to find herself trapped in a web of institutional cover-ups and powerful figures determined to silence her. Durga must risk everything to tear down the wall of protection surrounding a monster before other young lives are shattered.
Nani Sahra Walker is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker. She executive produced the acclaimed short documentaries Kylie (Sundance, 2023), Merman (Tribeca, 2023) and The Last Repair Shop (Telluride, 2023), which won the 2024 Academy Award. Her narrative feature film Shakti is distributed by Buffalo 8. Nani is an alum of the ARRI International Support Program, Asia Project Market, Cine Qua Non Lab, SFFILM FilmHouse Residency Program and BAFTA. She is a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s renowned documentary program and mentors filmmakers at American Film Showcase.
Heartland International Film Festival
Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2026
Hawaii International Film Festival 2025
International Film Festival of India - Goa 2025
CAAMFest 2026
Heartland International Film Festival 2025, Best Premiere Narrative
Heartland International Film Festival 2025, Richard D. Propes Narrative Social Impact Award
Best Social Justice Film, Tasveer Film Festival
Jury Award, Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
Best Foreign Feature Film, Female Eye Film Festival
Writer/Director/Producer/Co-editor - Nani Sahra Walker
Production Design/Producer - Candi Guterres
Director of Photography - Keiko Nakahara
William Ryan Fritch - Composer