Sahara Sharma

Sahara Sharma is a New York-based Nepali filmmaker known for her focus on gender-sensitive storytelling and her contributions to the independent cinema movement in Nepal. She first gained international acclaim with her debut television feature, Chasing Rainbows (2013), which explores themes of sexuality, migration, and the struggles of Nepali youth. The film opened the 2013 Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, winning the Nepal Panorama category, and later received the Jury Prize at the 2014 Toronto Nepali Film Festival. Together with filmmaker Abhimanyu Dixit, she co-founded Gauthali Entertainment, a feminist filmmaking platform dedicated to creating nuanced narratives and increasing access for women in the industry. Her work is characterized by a commitment to moving beyond one-dimensional female archetypes, advocating for more complex character development that challenges traditional gender roles. Her latest project, My Share of Sky, has received professional support through the Locarno Film Festival's Open Doors consultancy and was honored with the Rotterdam Lab Award. Through her roles as a director and a creative leader, she continues to push for a more inclusive and democratized filmmaking process that empowers underrepresented voices.