A new film from India set in the remote Himalayas explores the clash traditional and modern cultures when it comes to gender roles and when it comes to the treatment of the environment. The film functions as a horror narrative about a group of high school students going on an excursion of discovery that discover themselves caught within the mysterious powers of forest, in which main protagonist Anahita discovers connections to her ancestors that assist in her coming of age.

Stephen Hill talked to the film’s director Bhargav Saikia about his film “Bokshi” which is getting its Australian premiere at the South By South West.