Salt water and sand, salt water and ash. On a busy Greek beach, an American woman receives a message from the sea…

After my father died, just before Christmas 2015 of a sudden, surprise heart attack, I stopped taking on video clients and went on an around-the-world trip, financing it with my dad’s life insurance benefit. It was a journey both inward and outward, honoring my father while on my way to visit my mother in India.

I started in Australia, where I cast my dad’s ashes into the sea. And then, after India, I went to Greece where I stayed with a filmmaker buddy of mine, Clees (Themistocles Lambridis). He said, “Hey Kiki, while you’re here, why don’t we make a short film?” I said, “Ok.” He went to work and I went to the beach. The sound of the rocks under my feet as I walked along the beach in Palaio Faliro inspired this film, along with the experience I’d had in Sydney after throwing my dad’s ashes there – when the ocean responded.

It was weird to be going on this around-the-world trip funded by the death of my father. It was bittersweet, to be sure, though he would’ve wanted nothing less for me.
The words that The Father speaks to The Daughter are, primarily, the same words that my father spoke to me in one of our last conversations before he died. So, this film is dedicated to my late father.

I’m particularly proud of the sound design done by my post-production-genius, Dave Mansfield, and the sound of the shell as The Daughter takes it away from her ear. It literally sounds like that action would sound in real life. It’s the small things in life that often become so big. Just like this movie and its screening at your film festival.

My father would’ve wanted nothing less from me.

One of my favorite shots in the film is a shot of legs with the Zia/”New Mexico stamp” tattoo in the foreground, and the waves of the Mediterranean in the background. At this time when toxic masculinity is so perniciously evident (and is in power even), it is important to uplift a feminine voice that honors the benevolent motives of the patriarchs. This film does that.

Thank you for your consideration,
Kiki Shakti