The Alma Film Festival Launches Workforce Readiness Initiative Through the Dandelion Institute
New Hands-On Training Workshops Aim to Prepare Local Talent for Opportunities Within the Growing Film Industry Across the Samaná Peninsula
LAS TERRENAS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — The Alma Film Festival has officially announced the launch of its Workforce Readiness Initiative, a new professional training platform presented through the Dandelion Institute, the festival’s workforce development and educational division dedicated to expanding pathways into the film, television, and creative industries.
Developed in response to the increasing production activity taking place throughout the Dominican Republic and the Samaná Peninsula, the initiative introduces a series of intensive workshops designed to help prepare emerging local talent for entry-level positions within professional film and television productions.
The inaugural workshop series will take place in Las Terrenas this July and will focus on two foundational areas of production: Production Assistant (PA) training and Grip & Camera Department fundamentals. Across four days of instruction, participants will receive practical, hands-on exposure to professional set operations, production workflow, communication protocols, safety procedures, equipment handling, and the collaborative dynamics that define contemporary filmmaking environments.
The Production Assistant Workshop will be held July 20–21, followed by the Grip & Camera Department Workshop on July 22–23. Each workshop is designed to equip participants with the foundational skills necessary to step confidently onto a working production set and contribute within entry-level crew positions.
“These workshops represent a meaningful step toward creating sustainable industry access for local communities,” said Anthony R. Page, Founder and Festival Director of the Alma Film Festival. “As production throughout the region continues to grow, it is essential that local residents are not simply observers of that growth, but active participants within it. This initiative is about access, preparation, exposure, and long-term opportunity.”
Applications for the workshops are now open to participants ages 18 and older. Space is limited.
Instruction will be led by working professionals from both the Dominican Republic and the international film community, alongside virtual engagements with filmmakers and creatives from around the world. The initiative reflects Alma’s broader philosophy of connecting local communities with global creative networks while investing in long-term cultural infrastructure.
The Workforce Readiness Initiative arrives as the Alma Film Festival continues to expand its broader ecosystem of educational, cultural, and industry-driven programming across the Dominican Republic and throughout the Global South. In addition to screenings and cultural exchange, the festival has increasingly emphasized workforce development, youth education, creative entrepreneurship, and sustainable community engagement as central pillars of its long-term mission.
Over the last decade, the Dominican Republic has become one of Latin America’s fastest-growing film hubs, driven by competitive production incentives, diverse landscapes, and growing production infrastructure. The Samaná Peninsula — including Las Terrenas — has increasingly attracted international productions, streaming projects, commercials, and branded content, while serving as a backdrop for major productions such as The Lost City starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum. In 2023 alone, the Dominican film industry generated approximately RD$10.2 billion (US$175 million) in economic activity across 120 productions, including 45 international projects. That same year, Samaná received international recognition at Cannes, winning the Emerging Location Award for its growing role as a global filming destination.
For additional information, partnership inquiries, or registration details, please contact:
FestivalDirector@AlmaFilmFestival.com
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