A filmmaker, visual artist and writer, Alia Aluma is known for her ability to bring creative innovation to various projects and atypical industries. Aluma works globally, reaching Hong Kong and England’s fashion industry, painting murals in Italy, developing architectural projects in Uganda and research and training in Brazil.
She currently works as a curator at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, is the founding Perspective Film Curator at Contemporary Calgary, a previous curator with Pink Flamingo and is a creative with SRRYCinema and Aluma Studio. She has also helped build and advise artists and creative residencies in Alberta, focusing on education and entrepreneurship. Her current focuses include leading an extensive Black history project across Canada with the CMHR and screenwriting and production with projects GAS MONEY (TV Series, 2025) and MARITA (short film, 2025) in production at Aluma Studio.
In 2024, she focused on playwriting (Roma Tempus, 2024) and film production (in prod. Yesterday, Last Year, 2025).
- “First Street Market. It’s one of Calgary’s perfect places. Best coffee, great food options, and dope vibes at all hours. And it’s warm with outlets and free wifi. This is where some of my best ideas for creative projects have come up. Stunning all around.”
- “The gluten-free Apple Pie from Pie Junkie or the Blueberry Lemon Curd ice cream from Made by Marcus. Manifesting a collab here. Either option is the quickest way to my heart.”
- “Thai Tai — elite food and enjoyable staff, too. Whenever a friend from out of town visits, I take them here because every item on the menu is a win.”
- “The Plaza Theatre in Kensington and the Globe Cinema — Calgary’s only remaining inner-city theatres. They show new releases, underground films, and classics. Any spare time I get, I am at the cinema.”
- “Contemporary Calgary, naturally. It’s only $20 to be a member for a year with access to programming, events, and exhibitions.”
