The Alma Film Festival Quarterly Update - Our Principles in Practice
Blue Bistro Creative is a cultural strategy and infrastructure platform operating at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and economic development.
We exist to solve a structural gap in the global creative economy: extraordinary cultural output is being generated across emerging markets, particularly throughout the Global South, but it remains undercapitalized, under-networked, and disconnected from scalable economic opportunity.
Our model is designed to close that gap.
What differentiates us is that we don't operate isolated programs-we build integrated infrastructure. That includes cultural platforms, talent pipelines, market access pathways, and community-based economic participation, all aligned within a single ecosystem.
Our Six Pillars of Purpose
Conversation | Connection | Community | Collaboration | Cultural Diplomacy | Collective Growth
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C-Suite Women’s Salon
One of Alma’s recent highlights was the successful hosting of the C-Suite Women’s Salon, an intimate gathering designed to bring together influential women leaders, executives, creatives, and changemakers for meaningful conversation and connection.
The event created a powerful space for dialogue centered around leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving role of women in shaping industries across business, media, entertainment, and culture. More than a networking event, the salon served as a platform for authentic relationship building, knowledge sharing, and strategic collaboration.
Through thoughtful discussions and meaningful engagement, the C-Suite Women’s Salon reflected Alma’s continued commitment to cultivating spaces where leadership, community, and opportunity intersect. As Alma continues to expand its ecosystem, events like these play an important role in strengthening partnerships and fostering impactful conversations that drive long-term growth and collaboration.
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| In partnership with Comunidad Arcadia, and under the leadership of Susie Belusi (2nd on the Right) and Virginia Paradinas (Far Right), we are building a multi-year initiative focused on mentoring and preparing young people and young adults for careers in the entertainment industry. The work has already begun. |
Alma Film Festival: Expanding Impact Through Film, Youth Development, and Innovation
The momentum surrounding Alma Film Festival continues to grow as we expand our impact through storytelling, youth development, cultural exchange, and creative innovation.
As a flagship platform under Blue Bistro Creative, Alma Film Festival is much more than a traditional film festival. It is a year-round ecosystem dedicated to connecting filmmakers, creatives, institutions, and emerging talent across the Global South and diaspora.
This season, Alma continues to build meaningful partnerships, strengthen educational initiatives, and prepare for exciting upcoming activations in both the Dominican Republic and Atlanta.
Empowering the Next Generation Through Film Academy
One of Alma’s most meaningful initiatives remains its First Frame Film Academy and our Production Readiness Initiative.
During recent sessions in the Dominican Republic, students participated in workshops, screenings, and discussions with filmmakers, mentors, and industry professionals. These experiences created opportunities for young creatives to engage directly with professionals and gain insight into storytelling, filmmaking, and media careers.
The students featured in these sessions are not simply attendees. They are emerging creators actively developing their voices, perspectives, and technical skills.
Alma’s mission is rooted in building pathways for the next generation by creating spaces where youth can learn, create, and grow within the creative economy. Through these programs, students are exposed to real industry conversations and authentic mentorship that help them better understand what is possible for their future.
Learn More About These Programs
Building Meaningful Connections Through Mentorship
A defining part of Alma’s impact is the strong connection between students and professionals.
Throughout recent programming, filmmakers, educators, and industry leaders shared their experiences, career journeys, and insights with participating youth. These conversations created powerful moments of learning, inspiration, and connection.
The value of these interactions goes far beyond a single event. By facilitating mentorship and authentic dialogue, Alma is helping young creatives build confidence while gaining access to knowledge and perspectives that can shape their future careers.
This approach continues to transform Alma into something far greater than an annual event. It has become a living ecosystem where education, mentorship, and opportunity continue long after the screenings end.
Strengthening Institutional Partnerships
Alma Film Festival is also entering an exciting phase of growth through strategic partnerships.
One of the most promising developments is growing alignment with Dean Sarah Cook of the Honors College at Georgia State University and Dr. Sontelle Thrash at Clayton State University. These partnerships create new opportunities to engage university students, emerging leaders, and academic institutions in Atlanta and enhance the research focus of our ecosystem.
As Alma expands its presence in Atlanta, these partnerships will help create stronger pathways for internships, fellowships, research collaborations, and creative innovation opportunities. This work will strengthen Alma’s ability to connect education, industry, and cultural impact in meaningful ways.
By building these institutional relationships, Alma continues to create long-term opportunities for students and young professionals seeking to enter the creative economy.
Looking Ahead: Ent-Tech Innovation & Discovery Expo
As Alma continues to grow, attention is now turning toward one of the most exciting upcoming initiatives under Blue Bistro Creative, the Ent-Tech (Innovation and Discovery Expo).
Taking place in Atlanta from September 30 through October 3, 2026, Ent-Tech represents the powerful intersection of entertainment, technology, innovation, and culture. This global entertainment technology expo is designed to spotlight leading-edge advances in film and television while nurturing emerging ideas at the intersection of entertainment and technology.
Ent-Tech is especially focused on innovation that exists outside traditional corridors of capital and visibility. The expo seeks to elevate groundbreaking ideas that carry extraordinary cultural, technological, and entrepreneurial promise, particularly those emerging from underrepresented markets and unconventional spaces.
A major emphasis of the expo is cultivating ideas from the Global South, non-traditional markets, and visionary individuals and institutions across the world. By bringing together creators, founders, innovators, students, and industry leaders, Ent-Tech aims to create meaningful collaboration and unlock new opportunities for growth.
From conversations around artificial intelligence in media to creator labs, innovation showcases, and networking experiences, Ent-Tech is positioned to become a major platform for shaping the future of entertainment and technology.
The initiative reflects Blue Bistro Creative’s broader vision of building scalable ecosystems where creativity and innovation drive economic opportunity, global connection, and transformative impact.
Fall Event Schedule
Wednesday, September 30
- Alma Experience Opening Event
Thursday, October 1
- Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit: Part 1 - The Crown Symposium on 1526
- Led & Co-Produced with Dr. Samuel Livingston, Morehouse professor of the Africana Studies Department
Friday, October 2
- Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit: Part 2 - Developing a Global Cinematic Agenda
- Featuring special presentations from organizations, institutions, and thought leaders across the Global South, including South Africa, Fiji, Kenya, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Honduras, among others.
Saturday, October 3
- Ent-Tech (Innovation & Discovery Expo)
- A highly interactive entertainment technology expo exploring the convergence of entertainment, technology, media, culture, and creative enterprise, with a special focus on innovation emerging from the Global South.
More Information on the Ent-Tech (Innovation & Discovery Expo)
Our Flagship Festival Experience
The second edition of the festival will take place March 12–21, 2027, in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic.
The festival is supported by a growing international community of more than 150 stakeholders across 56 cities in 36 countries, collectively working toward deeper cultural engagement, creative collaboration, and global exchange through storytelling and innovation.
“In everything we do, we aim to spark conversations that cultivate meaningful connections and strengthen our sense of community. From this shared foundation, we hope to inspire greater collaboration, leading to cultural diplomacy and collective growth.”
~ Anthony R. Page, Ecosystem Architect, Founder & Festival Director
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A Complete Look at Anthony & Blue Bistro Creative's
Background and Production Activity
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