Alief, a French-U.K. production outfit, has secured the international sales rights for ‘Bokshi,’ a supernatural folk horror film from Indian filmmaker Bhargav Saikia. The film is set to make its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Harbour section.

The film stars Mansi Multani (A Suitable Boy) and Prasanna Bisht (Farrey), with Harsh Vaibhav penning the screenplay and serving as executive producer. The crew includes cinematographers Siddharth Sivasankaran and A. Vasanth, with music by Advait Nemlekar and editing by Himanshu Chutia Saikia.

‘Bokshi’ tells the story of Anahita, a troubled teen who finds comfort in her mysterious history teacher, Shalini. During a school excursion to an ancient site known as “The Navel,” Anahita becomes involved in a chilling discovery. The site is linked to a cult that worships Bokshi, a fearsome demoness rooted in folklore.

The title ‘Bokshi,’ which means “witch” in Nepali, signals a departure from India’s recent trend of horror-comedy films, embracing a darker, more atmospheric take on the genre.

Saikia describes the film as a cautionary tale that sheds light on universal themes like women’s empowerment and humanity’s relationship with nature. “The film attempts to subvert the negative portrayal of the witch in society and presents it as a symbol of female empowerment,” Saikia explains.

Shot over 80 days in the remote Himalayan region of Sikkim, the film faced logistical challenges due to the harsh winter and the rugged landscape. Saikia was committed to authenticity, choosing to film entirely on location with a crew of over 100 people. The film features a multilingual script, with dialogue in Hindi, English, Nepali, and even Boksirit, a language created specifically for the movie by Dutch linguist Jan van Steenbergen.

The film was developed over five years by Saikia’s Mumbai-based production company, Lorien Motion Pictures, navigating through pandemic delays and financial difficulties. “Bokshi is a fully self-financed film,” reveals Saikia, sharing that his family endured great sacrifices to bring the project to life.

You can check out the clip below:

After its debut at Rotterdam, Saikia plans to present Bokshi at genre festivals such as Sitges and Fantasia. He is particularly eager to see how the film is received in Nepal, where the term “Bokshi” carries significant cultural weight.

The film is primarily targeted at young adults, and Saikia believes it has strong potential to connect with audiences both in India and abroad.

Alief will present Bokshi to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin, alongside other films such as Jerome Yoo’s Mongrels, Cesar Agusto Acevedo’s Horizonte, and Lucy Cohen’s Edge of Summer.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam runs from January 30 to February 9, and Bokshi is sure to be one of the standout films at this year’s event.

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