Pick up where you left off Continue →

Ideas worth building.

Three days in Bucharest. Three nights in New York. One stage where creative founders under 35 meet the people who build, fund and distribute culture.

Register — free → Apply to pitch
Pre-eventFOT–26
Bucharest
27–30 AUG 2026
Labs & rehearsals
OTP
→
The finalsFOT–26
New York
19–21 NOV 2026
ICR New York
JFK
The countdown to Bucharest
00d : 00h : 00m : 00s
See the 2025 recap →
Why we gather

Creative entrepreneurs under 35 stop rehearsing in private — and pitch to the people who build, fund and distribute culture.

1,000
Past Attendees
40
Pitched Projects
2
Past Editions
20
Mentorship slots
The route

One idea, two hemispheres.

01
Bucharest — the lab27–30 AUG

Workshops, mentors and late-night rewrites. Where the pitch finds its spine.

02
New York — the stage19–21 NOV

New York, live audience, cameras on. Where the pitch meets its moment.

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On stage

First stop: Bucharest.

Radu PăltineanuSpeaker
Radu Păltineanu
European Adventurer of The Year
Carmen CiulianMentor
Carmen Ciulian
Vice President, Museum of Remarkable Women
Titus ArdeleanuMentor
Titus Ardeleanu
Business Developer & LD, OVB Allfinanz
Larysa GutarevychMentor
Larysa Gutarevych
Partner / Producer at Sarke Studio
Andreea DrogeanuMentor
Andreea Drogeanu
Screening Committee Tribeca Film Festival
Viorel ChesaruModerator
Viorel Chesaru
Producer | General Director UPFAR-ARGOA
Mark FolignoMentor
Mark Foligno
Executive Producer at The King's Speech
Meg ThomsonMentor
Meg Thomson
EVP, Globalgate Entertainment
Monica EugeniuMentor
Monica Eugeniu
President, PWN Romania
Armine VosganianSpeaker
Armine Vosganian
Pioneer of Telematic Theatre
Bogdan IonescuMentor
Bogdan Ionescu
GOPO Winner, Production Designer
Isabella NeamțuModerator
Isabella Neamțu
Actress
Gabriela SuciuMentor
Gabriela Suciu
Vice-Dean of the Film Faculty, UNATC
Toma NicolauMentor
Toma Nicolau
Founder, Good Game Industry
Ileana CipcaMentor
Ileana Cipca
IBM Consulting, Product Marketing Lead
Daniela MaiorMentor
Daniela Maior
Investor Relations & Capital Markets
Cristian GuguMentor
Cristian Gugu
Producer of "PLAHA"
Alexandru BaltăMentor
Alexandru Baltă
Doctorate on Gaming & Lecturer UNATC
Stefan Emil IonescuMentor
Stefan Emil Ionescu
Co-Founder, Lew.ro
Cosmin ArteneMentor
Cosmin Artene
Software Engineer, THUNDER
Ligia CiorneiHost
Ligia Ciornei
CEO, Festival of Thinking
All speakers & mentors →
Three tracks

Pick your frequency.

Every session and lab lives on one of three tracks — one stage, three lenses. Wander between them; the best ideas do.

01
Technology

The tools of the next decade.

Generative tools for creatorsRobotics & spatial computing demosEthics & the new creative stack
02
Entertainment

From script to global screens.

Festival & distribution strategyProducing for global platformsStory labs with working writers
03
Business

Where ideas meet capital.

Live pitch rooms with VCsGo-to-market & fundraising clinicsFounder ↔ investor matchmaking
The competition

From a form to the New York finals.

STEP 01Apply (24 Jul - 17 Aug)

One short form: the idea, the person behind it, the traction. Rolling review — decisions within 4 days.

STEP 02Pitch in Bucharest

27–30 Aug. Labs on narrative, numbers and nerve — then the final pitch, live on the Bucharest stage.

STEP 03Make the six

A jury of producers, founders and investors picks the six founders who fly.

STEP 04Pitch again in New York

New York — a second chance on the bigger stage: live audience, investors in the room, $3,000 on the table.

The stakes
$3,000grand prize
6 finalistsfly to New York
Every finalistinvestor intros
18–35any country
Apply with your project →
Rolling review — early applications get feedback first.
Who it's for
01
The creators

Bring the idea you can't stop talking about.

Apply →
02
The backers

Meet the next portfolio before anyone else.

Partner →
03
The curious

Come for the ideas. Stay for the people.

Register — free →
Free entry

Entry is free.
Just save your seat.

No ticket, no fee — every session is open. Register below and we will send you the details and reminders.

See the program →
Bucharest · 27–30 Aug 2026 — Cinetic UNATC (27–29) · The Ark (30, gala)
Where

Two venues, four days.

Aug 27–29
Cinetic UNATC
Strada Tudor Arghezi 3B, 030167 București
Get directions →
Aug 30 · Gala
The Ark
Strada Uranus 150, București
Get directions →
FOT 26

Think bigger.
Be there.

Register — free → Apply to pitch
Support
Frequently asked
Who can apply to the program?+
Anyone aged 18–35 with a project across tech, film or business.
When can I apply?+
Apply for free between July 24 and August 10.
How does it work?+
You can apply between July 24 and August 10. We will then review all applications and select the most promising projects. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit a short video pitch to assess their English proficiency and communication skills. Following the assessment, 20 participants will be selected to take part in three days of masterclasses and 1:1 mentorship, taking place from August 27–29. The program will culminate on August 30 with a live pitch in front of a panel of investors.
What do I need to submit with my application?+
We ask you to submit a project presentation or pitch deck in PDF format. Present your project clearly and structure it in a visually engaging way, just as you would prepare a professional pitch deck to present your idea to investors.
Is the program held in English?+
Yes. The program will be conducted primarily in English, as our mentors and tutors are international professionals. The final pitch will also be delivered in English, as our goal is to prepare participants to take their projects to the international market.
Who are the tickets for?+
The tickets are for those who are not participating in the program but want to focus on their personal and professional development.
What does the ticket include?+
Access to the masterclasses taking place from August 27–29 and, depending on the pass, access to the main event on the final day.
I wasn’t selected — can I still attend?+
Yes! All applicants who are not selected will receive a discount on their ticket.
Still stuck? Email contact@noeticark.com
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