EFL Mission
Our mission is to empower the next generations of filmmakers where they can envision experiment and evolve with the ever changing landscape of Entertainment
EFL Vision
To establish an incubator cohort and creative lab that empowers filmmakers and storytellers with the tools to thrive in the Entertainment Industry—both creatively and from a business perspective. This initiative will serve as a cultural and professional bridge, connecting the Bay Area to Los Angeles and beyond. Through industry-informed training and mentorship, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of entertainment standards, creative development, and career sustainability. This will be a thriving ecosystem and community for the next generation and adults who want to pursue continuing education.Â
Up Coming Events:
EnActe Film Lab Fireside Chat Featuring Archita Mandal
Where Diaspora Storytelling Meets the Future of Creative Technology
As EnActe Film Lab continues its mission to champion global, diasporic, and women-centered storytelling, we are proud to present a special conversation with Archita Mandal, a visionary at the intersection of award-winning cinema and frontier technology.
Archita Mandal represents the convergence of world-class filmmaking and cutting-edge AI innovation.
An acclaimed writer-director-producer, she has helmed genre-bending works such as the psychological thriller Ominous and the Amazon Prime drama The Nair House. As the Founder and CEO of UpendNow Inc., Archita is transforming her cinematic expertise into a breakthrough AI SaaS platform. She is pioneering the next generation of creative agents—systems designed to modernize, accelerate, and elevate workflows across advertising and film.
By blending high-level narrative craft with powerful technological design, Archita is shaping a new era of creative production—one where emotional depth, human nuance, and cultural authenticity meet the limitless scalability of artificial intelligence.
As Program Director of the EnActe Film Lab, Arati Misro brings two decades of global filmmaking, producing, and industry leadership across Hollywood, Bollywood, and the international festival circuit. Her extensive background in creative development, business strategy, and cross-border storytelling forms the foundation for EnActe’s mission:
to amplify diasporic voices, nurture emerging filmmakers, and create inclusive pathways into the entertainment industry.
Arati Misro, Film Lab Program Director
Film producer with nearly 20 years of experience in domestic and international film production, packaging, distribution, and financing. She has worked with Sony, Fox and Universal Pictures for various projects and Exhibited theatrically studio films. Her experience spans studio projects and with cast from (The Avengers, Lincoln Lawyer) and indie features as production support and management. Producer (Designed by Preeti, 2025). She has collaborated with notable celebrities and brands including Lady Gaga, Chris Martin and The NFL. She also worked with various Bollywood actors such as Anupam Kher and Boman Irani.
Arati produced the 2024 American Film Convention in Los Angeles. and is an advisor. She serves on the advisory board of the Davinci International Film Festival and as a jury member for several International Film Festivals. Arati holds an MFA in Producing from the AFI. Also an MBA. She has been a liaison in the venture capital world for film and TV companies as well as Indie Producers and Entrepreneurs. Arati is currently focusing on building sustainable ecosystems in the arts, cinema and Education. She mentored  countless people who want to embark in Entertainment as a chair of WIF international, LA and continues through the various leadership positions she holds
Shankey Srinivasan, Instructor
Shankey Srinivasan is an award-winning Indian-American filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. His work has been showcased at prestigious film festivals worldwide, earning accolades for both storytelling and direction. His debut feature film, The Last Smile, received Best Picture honors at the Burbank International Film Festival and the Louisville International Festival of Film, the Audience Choice Award at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, and the Jury Award at the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Shankey is also an Acting Coach and has ten years of experience teaching acting for Film & TV.