Buffalo 8 has secured distribution rights to “Shakti,” the debut narrative feature from Nepali-American filmmaker Nani Sahra Walker, in a seven-year deal covering the U.S., Canada and U.K. markets.
The Kathmandu-set drama follows a determined single mother whose nine-year-old daughter falls mysteriously ill. When medical professionals can’t provide answers, she seeks help from a local shaman, setting both mother and daughter on a journey toward redemption.
Walker, who previously served as executive producer at LA Times Studios, draws parallels between her film and Nepal’s recent political transformation. “Recently in Nepal, young people dismantled the government and ushered in the country’s first female prime minister who has been fighting for women’s rights for decades. ‘Shakti’ is grounded in that same spirit, carrying both the spirit of resistance and change,” she said.
“‘Shakti’ confronts fading global attention on sexual violence, caste injustice, and the corruption fueling Nepal’s biggest protests in decades. It’s both a response to Nepal’s urgent call for action and a universal story of justice and resilience,” Walker added.
Walker brings notable credits to the project, having overseen award-winning short documentaries at LA Times Studios, including “The Last Repair Shop,” which claimed the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short in 2024. Her 2012 debut documentary “Other Nature,” exploring LGBTQ rights in Nepal, played at BFI Flare, Outfest, Frameline and dozens of international festivals.
Behind the camera, acclaimed Japanese cinematographer Keiko Nakahara lensed the project. Nakahara’s decade-plus career spans work on “Mary Kom,” “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior” and “The Jane Austen Book Club” across India, Hollywood and Japan.
The cast includes Laxmi Bardewa (“Bulbul”), Menuka Pradhan (“Saili”), Shristi Shrestha (“The Red Suitcase”) and Polina Oli. Executive producers are Vrushali Satarkar, Snehal Fulzele, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Grady Craig, Gannon Kenney and Rakesh Mehra, whose credits include “The Warrior” and “Seven Years in Tibet.”
“Shakti” will world premiere at the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis before screening in the New American Perspectives lineup at the Hawaii International Film Festival. Additional festival stops include the Tasveer South Asian Film Festival in Seattle and the Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto.
The project received backing from ARRI’s International Support Program, a global initiative supporting emerging filmmakers. Production also marked the Nepal debut of the ARRI ALEXA 35 camera system.
variety.com
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