Seattle-based nonprofit Tasveer is expanding its footprint with the launch of the Tasveer Producers Lab, a mentorship program designed to cultivate the next generation of South Asian producing talent.
The lab, which will operate out of Los Angeles as an extension of the Oscar-qualifying Tasveer Film Festival and Market, selected just five projects from over 100 submissions for its inaugural cohort. The competitive program targets producers of South Asian descent and projects rooted in the diaspora experience.
Leading the initiative is Milan Chakraborty, head of film at Marginal MediaWorks, who has been named the lab’s first artistic director. The veteran indie producer brings more than 30 film credits and Warner Bros. Pictures experience to the role.
“I have been a fan of Tasveer for years and was honored to become the first artistic director of the producer Lab,” Chakraborty said. “The South Asian diaspora has made incredible strides over the past several years; and yet, it’s become harder than ever to get meaningful distribution on independent films and create a sustainable career as a film producer. We know our stories and talent are valuable original IP with global resonance.”
The 2025 cohort features a diverse slate of projects spanning genres from horror to political drama. Selected teams include Aneesa Khan and Vinay Umapathy with “The Settler,” a 1993-set thriller about an Indian immigrant confronting dark forces in rural Texas; Aishwarya Sonar and Shuchi Dwivedi’s “Friends and Fascism,” set in an Indian Catholic boarding school; and Karan Shah and Janani Vijayanathan’s “A Silent Wave,” exploring reproductive rights in post-Roe Texas.
Also chosen were Alison Almeida’s “Dusky Fever,” a provocative story about racial identity and relationships, and Alifya Ali and Samantha Skinner’s “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” a family drama set during a Houston summer.
The program unfolds in two phases. Fellows will gather Aug. 14-17 in Los Angeles for workshops at Amazon MGM Studios, followed by virtual sessions in September. The culmination comes at the Tasveer Film Market (Oct. 8-10 in Seattle), where participants will pitch their projects for a $10,000 development grant.
“Tasveer’s mission has always been to create access points for South Asian filmmakers. This lab is a bold step toward nurturing producers who will define the next generation of cinema from the diaspora,” said Rita Meher, Tasveer co-founder and executive director.
The initiative is backed by The Niraj Bhatia Foundation and Om Films, Inc., with support from Amazon MGM Studios. Overseeing the program alongside Meher are Ritvik Dhavale (lab producer and program manager), Neha Dutta (program manager), and Amun Chaudhary (program coordinator).
The lab represents the latest expansion of Tasveer’s industry initiatives, which include its annual film festival now in its 20th year, plus funding and market programs. The organization, founded in 2002, is a leading advocate for South Asian voices in global cinema.
Finalists for the program included Rajendra Thakurathi, Sheheryar Ahsan, Kajri Akhtar, Vinny Anand, Kartic Bhargav, and Shane Collins.