What We Saw in Samaná Changed Us—Here’s What We’re Doing About It...
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| Pictured here: Some of the Alma Film Festival's Community of Stakeholders. (L-R) Anthony R. Page (Festival Director), Perla Janerky Armando Sanchez, Yalonda Lolar-Johnson, Noelle Wright, Mal, Viara, Star, Kurt Wright, Nina Villani, Katrin Kocsis, Alahna Lark, and Leonardo Armando. |
A Festival Is Not Enough: Why We’re Investing in Samaná’s Creative Economy
We are building a creative and workforce development pipeline in Samaná, Dominican Republic—designed to connect local talent to the global film and television economy.
This work is rooted in something simple: presence.
During our time in Las Terrenas and the greater Samaná region, we were welcomed with warmth, openness, and generosity—by students, educators, local leaders, and families. What we experienced was real, and it stayed with us.
But so did what we observed.
Samaná is a place with a rich and layered history—once a quiet fishing and farming community, now evolving into a destination with increasing global visibility. With that growth comes opportunity. But it also reveals gaps.
Many families in the region are navigating life on monthly incomes between $200 and $300 USD. At the same time, we encountered bright, curious young people—full of imagination and potential—who have never experienced a film on a big screen.
That contrast is not abstract. It’s immediate.
And it raises a fundamental question:
How do we move from exposure… to access… to real opportunity?
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| A screening of Origins, a powerful film by Kurt and Noelle Wright, during the Alma Film Festival. The filmmakers are part of the Dandelion Institute Film & Television Fellowship. |
From Observation & Experience to Intent & Action
What we encountered in Samaná didn’t just move us—it clarified commitment and responsibility.
In response, we, the Alma Film Festival Executive Team, are launching the Dandelion Institute – First Frame Film Lab (Las Terrenas).
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This is not simply a camp or a one-time initiative. It is a structured pipeline designed to move students from curiosity to creation—and ultimately, to economic participation in a growing global industry.
At its core, we are building:
- A local creative talent pipeline
- An entry-level workforce pathway into film and television
- A community-based content ecosystem
- A bridge between Samaná and the global media landscape
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| Nina Villani, Head writer / Producer/ Impact Producer at Lark Media, works with students from Comunidad Arcadia, a local youth community led by Susy Belussi. |
The Model: From First Exposure to Real Opportunity
Our approach is intentionally designed as a full-cycle system:Exposure → Education → Creation → Exhibition → Employment
July: Summer Intensive (5-Day Camp)
We begin with a five-day immersive experience, introducing students to the full filmmaking process:
- Development
- Pre-Production
- Production
- Post-Production
- Marketing & Distribution
For many, this will be their first time engaging in storytelling at this level—and their first step into a creative industry.
August – December: Monthly Development
Students will continue working through each stage of the filmmaking process:
- August – Development: Scriptwriting and story creation
- September – Pre-Production: Casting, locations, planning
- October – Production: Filming in the community
- November – Post-Production: Editing and finalizing films
- December – Marketing & Distribution: Posters, trailers, press kits
By the end of this phase, students will have completed original film projects.
January – March: Global Integration
From January through March, we shift into promotion and presentation.
Select student films will be showcased as part of the Alma Film Festival, taking place March 12–21, 2027—creating a direct connection between local creators and a global audience.
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| Students Hansel Rodríguez (left) and Ettore Paradinas from Comunidad Arcadia participate in a panel, offering their insights as we prioritize youth engagement in developing a more inclusive global cinematic agenda. |
Workforce Development: Turning Skills Into Opportunity
This initiative is not only about creative expression—it is about economic opportunity.
The Dominican Republic is experiencing increased interest from international film and television productions, with growing attention on regions like Samaná and Las Terrenas. However, for local communities to benefit, there must be access to training and clear entry points into the industry.
While our summer programming focuses on early exposure and creative development, our workforce development efforts will be more fully activated in alignment with the 2027 Alma Film Festival.
At that stage, we will begin implementing structured pathways for participants to step into entry-level, paid roles, including:
- Production Assistants (PAs)
- Grip Department crew
These positions represent some of the most accessible entry points into the film industry—and often serve as the foundation for long-term careers.
Our goal is to:
- Prepare local residents for on-set work
- Connect them with real production opportunities
- Expand income potential for families
- Contribute to the diversification of the local economy
This is about building capacity—not just creating content.
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| The students were visibly excited by the opportunity to experience the films and attended several sessions throughout the festival. Pictured here: Carla González, Victoria Esteban, and fellow students from Comunidad Arcadia. |
Community Access & Ecosystem Building
In addition to the fellowship, we are committed to hosting free community screenings, creating opportunities for residents—many for the first time—to experience films in a shared, cinematic environment.
We are also actively building relationships with key stakeholders across the region—including the local film commission, the tourism department, the mayor’s office, and community leaders—to ensure that this work is collaborative, aligned, and beneficial to the broader ecosystem.
As the Alma Film Festival continues to grow its presence in Samaná each year, we are committed to being thoughtful stewards of the community we are entering. Our goal is not simply to bring a festival, but to build relationships, expand access, and support long-term creative and economic opportunity.
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| The Alma Film Festival Executive Team made it a priority to include local students in the festival experience, ensuring that the community could share in and benefit from the festival. |
Why This Work Matters—Right Now
This moment is important.
- The Dominican Republic is seeing increased global production activity
- The demand for diverse, global storytelling is rising
- Samaná is emerging as a location of interest
Without intentional investment in local talent and workforce development, these opportunities risk passing by the very communities they touch.
We believe this is the moment to act—thoughtfully and collaboratively.
While our work begins in Las Terrenas, it is designed with scale in mind, with the potential to expand into surrounding communities such as El Limón and Santa Bárbara de Samaná over time.
Las Terrenas–based filmmaker Alfredo J. Williams, a supporter of the First Frame Film Lab, is pictured here capturing a podcast during the festival, led by Malik Yoba and featuring Diana Lynch-Grissett. He will also serve as a mentor to participating students, supporting their development throughout the program.
Building With the Community
This work is being developed in alignment with local and regional stakeholders, including the Dominican Republic Film Commission, the tourism department, the mayor’s office, and local educators and community leaders.
This effort is further supported by Comunidad Arcadia, where Susy Belussi serves as lead administrator. The school will serve as the foundation for our first cohort of students.
Virginia Paradinas will serve as our lead ambassador, supporting coordination and engagement with the local community of students, faculty, and parents. She was also a tremendous catalyst in connecting the Alma Film Festival with local students and their families, making their participation possible. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and for bringing the needs of this community to our attention.
Vanessa Lubeigt, a member of the Alma Film Festival host committee in the Las Terrenas area, is a key supporter of this initiative and will play an instrumental role in connecting us with agencies and individuals across the region, helping to ensure we deliver meaningful value to the program and the students and families it serves.
In addition, we are partnering with the G.L.O.W. Syndicate, under the leadership of Executive Director Demetric Hillman, to provide camera equipment and editing stations in support of the program.
We are also partnering with Signify TV, under the leadership of Alahna Lark—an Emmy Award–winning producer, director, and founder of Lark Media. Through its global streaming platform based in Atlanta, Georgia, Signify TV will showcase select student works to international audiences following the festival.
As the Alma Film Festival continues to grow in Samaná each year, our commitment is to be present in a way that is responsible, collaborative, and aligned with long-term community impact.
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| Anthony R. Page, Festival Director of the Alma Film Festival, speaks with students from Comunidad Arcadia inside the mayor’s chambers in Las Terrenas. Moments like this reflect our commitment to creating access, connection, and real opportunity for the next generation. |
An Invitation to Build
This is more than a program—it is the foundation of a creative ecosystem.
What we saw in Samaná stayed with us.
Now, we’re building something that can stay with the community.
We are inviting partners, supporters, and institutions to help expand this work—through:
- Sponsoring student cohorts
- Supporting workforce development initiatives
- Funding equipment and production resources
- Partnering on community screenings
- Contributing to long-term program sustainability
Now, we’re building something that can stay with the community.
This is not just about what we bring to Samaná—it’s about what we build, together."
~ Anthony R. Page, Founder & Festival Director, Alma Film Festival
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