📷 Credit: Ben Deflorio Photography

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📷 Credit: Ben Deflorio Photography

ABOUTOn Goldfish Pond Creative, LLC is a boutique consultancy for arts and storytelling where ideas ripple into meaningful change. Rooted in Vermont yet flowing into global networks, The Pond sits at the confluence of strategy, story, and cultural engagement—partnering with artists, organizations, and communities to bring bold visions to life. From inventive communications & marketing campaigns to cultural gatherings, every project begins as a spark and extends into a wave of connection.***

📷 Credit: Sarah Lake Kjelleren

Alia Quart Khan:
Founder & Creative Producer
Swiss-born, Canadian-Pakistani by heritage, Vermont-rooted since 2020.
20+ years in entertainment marketing, film publicity, and cultural storytelling
across the U.S., Canada, and Europe."From red carpets to dirt roads, from Cannes to cowbells each chapter has shaped how I tell stories that travel, gather people, and make a little magic along the way."
- Alia Quart Khan,
Founder & Creative Producer***

Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC):
Fiscal Sponsor—Grants and Philanthropy
Rural innovation hub in Springfield, Vermont that fuels entrepreneurship and the creative economy with mentorship, capital, workspace, and statewide connections."Alia & On Goldfish Pond Creative exemplify the kind of creative leadership we champion—work that is bold, community-centered, and strategically positioned for meaningful impact. BRIC is proud to provide ongoing infrastructure and strategic support. We believe the flagship initiative, Hollywood, VT represents a powerful model for place-based, participatory storytelling—and we invite you to join us in supporting its next chapter."
— Vincent Fusca III,
Executive Director, BRIC
***

📷 Credit: Ben Deflorio Photography

Rupert Jasper Fennec:
Chief Joy Officer
Rescue pup from Wags + Walks turned scene-stealer, proving that second chances sparkle brightest. Charming hoomans from Geneva bistros to Hollywood boulevards and Vermont backroads and beyond.“Stay curious. Nap often. Every team needs a big heart, a little humor, and someone who knows when to stop overthinking and go chase the tennis ball by the pond.”
— Rupert Jasper Fennec,
Chief Joy Officer
***

Rolling Credits: Boards, Speaking Engagements, Collaborations & Kudos

BOARD WORK:
@Vermont Arts Council | Board of Trustees
@Randolph Playhouse Movie Theatre | Board Member
@Vermont Production Collective | Advisory Board Member

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
@Chapman University| Entertainment Marketing Guest Lecture, 2016
@Vermont College of Fine Arts| Guest Lectures, 2015, 2021
@SXSW Festival| Publicity Mentor Round Tables, 2017, 2018, 2019
@Angaelica Festival | Publicity Panel, 2017

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
🌴 @Film Independent
Led communications for the Spirit Awards, LA Film Festival, and Jason Reitman’s Live Read series at LACMA—celebrating independent voices and creative collaboration on and off screen.🏆 @Academy Awards Campaigns
Collaborated on award-season strategies for films including The Artist, Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, and The Master to name a few. High-stakes storytelling meets Hollywood shimmer.🎥 @National Film Board of Canada
Helped develop and promote award-winning documentaries and animation at one of the world’s most respected storytelling institutions—where art and social impact meet.😂 @Just for Laughs / Juste pour rire
Publicized live comedy events like Family Guy Live Read and New Faces of Comedy, blending humor, performance, and festival culture.📚 @CBC Literary Awards
Supported the celebration of emerging Canadian writers through cultural programming and communications with CBC/Radio-Canada.🎨 @Vermont College of Fine ArtsServed as Associate Director for Film & Visual Arts Admissions, leading recruitment strategies and creative outreach for graduate programs in visual storytelling and design. 🎙 Visiting Faculty — “How to Demystify Publicity", MFA in Film Program🎓 @University of Vermont FoundationAs Assistant Director of Events, produced high-impact institutional gatherings—from multi-day Board of Directors meetings and major donor celebrations to reunions and investitures—advancing UVM’s mission and alumni engagement.

KUDOS
“Many filmmakers navigating North American Festivals or Awards season for the first time find Alia’s advice very useful and hopeful when they are confronted with a cut throat system that looks impenetrable to them. She is very accessible and kind sharing her expertise and industry knowledge, offering strategic overview that encompasses comprehensive approach beyond just straight PR.”
— Maria Raquel Bozzi, Film Independent
___
“Alia is the ideal hire for film publicity. Efficiency, hard work, creativity and positivity are just some of the incredible qualities she has to offer. She possesses unparalleled communication skills and is so easy to work with. She works well under pressure and sticks to timelines with ease, demonstrating seasoned time management expertise.”
— Rebecca Nicholson, Film Option
___“I received a consultation from Alia for the film I produced and her input was extremely valuable. She understands the context of campaigning and is also mindful of the film and filmmaker's context and objectives towards the film's strategy campaign. I am very grateful for her support and loved her positive vibe.”
— Maria Teresa Gaviria, Cumbia Films
___
“I'm not sure I've ever met anyone as capable and creative as Alia Quart Khan. Her ability to see the possibilities for promoting and highlighting an institution is uncanny, and she presents clear, well-thought out plans in a way that is engaging and exciting. She is a consummate professional and a supportive team member, and her experience in marketing and public relations is invaluable in any field.”
— Ann Dávila Cardinal, Author
___“Working with Alia is always an absolute pleasure. She is the consummate professional and is incredibly poised, intelligent, thoughtful and positive. She has built long-standing, trusted relationships throughout the industry and is a wonderful collaborator. Alia is a strategic problem solver, inspiring and effective leader, and a true asset that you always want to have in your corner.”
— Kelly Byke, Paramount Pictures
___“I had the pleasure of working closely with Alia for over seven years at Film Independent. Throughout that time she was a consummate professional, extremely good at her job, passionate about the organization's mission and able to communicate that mission effectively to press. Alia is smart, organized, dedicated, meticulous about details, collaborative, and always thinking through multiple scenarios regarding the organization's messaging and how to make it as clear and effective as possible.”
— Josh Welsh, Film Independent
___“We've worked together on several projects and Alia Quart Khan is one of the best people to have as a colleague. Her ability to forecast industry reactions helped us during hard times and we were able to innovate due to her insight. I have always been amazed by Alia's ability to act calm in a highly stressful environment: award shows, festivals, red carpets with A-list talent…she is poised and elegant but able to act on any fires that emerge”.
— Rachel Bleemer, Film Independent___“Alia is an absolute class-act, and one of the most reliable and hard-working publicists in the business. I think anyone who has the pleasure of working closely with Alia will soon find that she has an enviable talent for conceiving (and executing) amazing 'out of the box' ideas and approaches every situation thoughtfully and critically -- it's not JUST about press breaks, it's also about the bigger picture.”
— Eric Osuna, R&CPMK___“Her lecture was thoroughly prepared, right to the point, highly informative and her delivery was nothing short of outstanding. We were indeed fortunate, and are quite thankful to Alia for her compelling presentation. We are hoping she will be able to present her perspectives and share her wealth of information with us at another session.”
— Stephen Pite, previously of Vermont College of Fine Arts___

🎬 Picture This: A Live Table Read, Vermont-StyleThe lights fade in a historic Vermont theatre—maybe the Chandler in Randolph, maybe the Town Hall in Middlebury. A row of actors takes the stage, scripts in hand, music stands in front of them. No set, no special effects—just voices, expressions, and the spark of story meeting imagination.
***
Behind them, scenes from a beloved Vermont-connected film flicker across the screen: Baby Boom’s apple orchard, Funny Farm’s covered bridge, Beetlejuice’s haunted house. The audience leans forward, caught between memory and discovery as the film comes alive in a completely new way.
***
Each actor breathes fresh energy into familiar lines—sometimes swapping genders, ages, or backgrounds—recasting the story through a more inclusive, contemporary lens. There’s laughter, nostalgia, and the buzz of recognition as local references and global themes intertwine.
***
It’s part stage reading, part radio play, part community revival. No rehearsals. No retakes. Just the magic of story and place, unfolding in real time.
***
And beyond the stage? Local makers pop up in the lobby, nonprofits host conversations, small businesses collaborate on themed bites and drinks. Each event ripples outward—connecting creativity, community, and commerce.
***
That’s a Hollywood, VT Live Read: where Vermont’s film legacy meets its future, and stories once set here find new life right back where they began.
***

THE POND | PHILOSOPHYPart Ted Lasso: “be a goldfish”— stay resilient, let go, keep moving.
Part On Golden Pond: story + place entwined.THE POND | MISSION
To spark meaningful change by blending strategy, storytelling, and community engagement—partnering with artists, organizations, and changemakers to make ideas ripple outward into impact.THE POND | VISION
Imagine a world where creativity acts as connective tissue: dissolving silos, uplifting underrepresented voices, and building cultural ecosystems that shimmer with resilience, collaboration, and joy.THE POND | VALUES1. Imagination with IntentionEvery project balances creativity with strategy, so ideas resonate and endure.2. Collaboration over CompetitionPartner with communities, clients, and co-creators to build shared success.3. Equity at the Core
Center inclusion, access, and belonging in all storytelling and design.4. Curiosity & Play
Treat delight, humor, and experimentation as serious tools for engagement.5. Ripple Effect Thinking
Recognize that even small projects can spark wider waves of connection and change.

The Goldfish Gazette

Dockside Dispatch #1

***[The first edition of the Goldfish Gazette opens with an image of the Pond in spring and closes with a glimpse of it this fall — Vermont in drought after floods.And yet, the Pond persists, whatever the season, the Pond is a place that never cease to amaze, there’s always something stirring. Resilient goldfish, a couple of determined frogs, a few cranky crawdads, and the occasional ethereal dragonfly.These Dockside Dispatches are a mix of professional insights, personal reflections, photos, and the occasional themed playlist.]
***

Monday, October 11, 2025

Actress Diane Keaton passed away this weekend. From Annie Hall to Baby Boom, she redefined what it means to grow, to start over, and to do it all with humor and heart. She made ambition look human and uncertainty look brave. Her characters reminded us that independence doesn’t mean isolation, it means having the courage to live by your own design.Reinvention is an art form equal parts terrifying and electrifying. Thank you for the courage, the hats, the humor and reminding us that being yourself, quirks and all, is the most radical act of all. Taking the leap and pressing publish.

• Music

SAMPLE SERVICESStrategic Vision & Planning
Clarify the “why” and chart a course forward. From big-picture visioning to practical roadmaps, we align strategy with story so that goals ripple outward into lasting impact.Story & Narrative Development
Shape narratives that resonate. We build messaging frameworks, brand voices, and creative storytelling that connect with audiences on every level.Communications & Marketing
Deliver imaginative campaigns and smart communications strategies that amplify work, spark engagement, and grow visibility where it matters most.Project & Event Curation
Design cultural gatherings and experiences that live beyond the moment—whether a one-night performance, a campaign launch, or a community celebration.Collaborations & Partnerships
Build and nurture cross-sector collaborations that expand reach, deepen impact, and strengthen the cultural ecosystem.