Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit: A Global Cinematic Agenda Takes Shape

Across Ent-Tech, conversations about AI, cultural power, and the future of storytelling laid the groundwork for a shared international effort.

Conversation is central to Alma Film Festival. Throughout Ent-Tech in Atlanta, one of the most urgent conversations unfolded at the intersection of technology and storytelling. Artificial intelligence was the elephant in the room: a source of possibility, uncertainty, and spirited discussion about the future of our industry and the larger society.

Across the week, participants explored the implications of AI’s rapid integration into creative work and everyday life. Those exchanges were contextual, candid, and in-depth, reflecting the different realities of the communities represented. They also helped sharpen the purpose of the Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit: to begin developing a global cinematic agenda that places underrepresented voices, particularly those of the Global South, at the center of shaping what comes next.

Against a backdrop of technological change, shifting political dynamics, and concerns about consolidation among Hollywood studios and major corporations, the conversation kept returning to agency. How can filmmakers and communities help shape the next chapter of cinema and storytelling? How can we ensure that more people have the opportunity to share their humanity in ways that are authentic, accurate, and complete?

These questions became a through line for the entire gathering. Early conversations surrounding the Georgia State University screening helped open the exchange. They continued through the Centering 1526 activation at Morehouse College on day two, where scholarship, cultural memory, and the responsibility to reclaim our narratives brought historical depth to the discussion.

On day three, a strategy session with a select group of executives from across the community created space for a more focused exploration of collaboration. Participants considered how their relationships, experience, and shared interests could contribute to a larger international effort. The conversation began moving toward the structure needed to sustain that work beyond the festival.

The week culminated with an AI summit led by AI Makers Generation at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. A dynamic presentation from Felix, representing Fiji’s film sector, alongside contributions from Tumeli Dakota and other participating voices, offered a deeper look at Fiji and Oceania. That regional perspective reinforced the importance of building an agenda informed by the people and places it is intended to serve.

Across countries, continents, cultures, and traditions, participants brought diverse interests and experiences to a shared undertaking. Developing a global cinematic agenda means making room for those differences and identifying where collaboration can serve our collective interests. The aim is to amplify voices too often left at the margins and contribute to a fuller global cultural conversation—one that reflects more of humanity’s history, evolution, and lived experience.

The depth of engagement made the Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit a tremendous success. What began as a series of conversations gained greater clarity and direction as the week progressed. Alongside the discussions about technology, the idea of establishing a global cinematic agenda became a shared focus, and an initial structure began to take shape.

As part of that next step, ten ambassadors were identified from different parts of the world to bring the context and perspectives of their regions into the ongoing conversation. An announcement introducing those ambassadors will be forthcoming.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated. In many ways, we were overwhelmed by the response,” said Anthony R. Page, Festival Director and Founder of the Afro-Mosaic Cinema Summit. “The depth of conversation and the willingness to engage exceeded our expectations. People came ready to think seriously about how we can work together to shape the future of cinema. That gives us a meaningful foundation for a global cinematic agenda that reflects more of our humanity.”

This is the beginning of an ongoing conversation and a shared effort to give it structure. The summit’s momentum offers a foundation for deeper relationships, continued regional exchange, and collaboration that can help more communities participate in defining the future of storytelling.