Shanta is a Director, Cinematographer, and Mountaineer and Line Producer based in Kathmandu, Nepal, and has been working in filmmaking since 2006. She has been directing and producing TV shows & documentaries with narratives focusing on social issues, marginalised communities, and outdoor and adventure stories. Her work has been screened on National and International networks, such as NatGeo, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, etc.
Born into a life of discrimination, stigma, and exclusion, she believes in amplifying marginalized voices through her films.
She is a founder and Director of Shanta Nepali Productions, a leading film production company in Nepal. Shanta also created Nepali Female Filmmakers, a supportive community for female filmmakers. She founded the Shanta Nepali Foundation, which empowers storytellers from marginalized communities to reach their filmmaking goals and visions.
Sara Frenning holds a Master of Science in Human Ecology from Lunds University, Sweden. Her Master's thesis was focused on the unjust treatment of mountain tourism workers in Nepal, and her areas of expertise included coloniality, human rights, climate change, women empowerment, and globalization issues. Social justice and de-colonial approaches are deeply interwoven in her work as a researcher and writer.
Sara has been based in Kathmandu, Nepal, for the last year, conducting research and managing projects. She is an avid practitioner of outdoor and adventure sports and is passionate about amplifying stories from places she visits.