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Call for projects · New York 2026

Opens Thu 15 Oct · in

15 Oct — 10 Nov 2026

Apply with a project

Up to 20 projects get three masterclasses, 1:1 mentoring and invitations to the screenings, 17–20 November in New York.

Who
Ages 18–35Solo or team
Where you live
Based in the USNew York or anywhere in the US
How many
Up to 20 projectsThree already picked in Bucharest
Deadline
Closes Tue 10 Nov23:59 ET (time to be confirmed) · opens Thu 15 Oct
How it works
Rolling selectionWe read applications as they arrive
What you get
Masterclasses + 1:1 meetingsAt ICR New York, 10:00–16:00, Tue 17 – Thu 19 Nov

01 Who can apply

A project, from idea to early traction

Film, tech or business, or a project that mixes them. The programme runs in English.

You can apply if

  • You are 18–35
  • You are based in the US
  • You have a project in film, technology, entrepreneurship or interdisciplinary creative practice
  • You apply solo or as a team

What you get

  • Three masterclasses at ICR New York (10:00–11:30, Tue 17 – Thu 19 Nov)
  • Curated 1:1 meetings with the mentors (12:00–16:00; Thursday until 15:30, then The Next Step), pre-matched to the project
  • Invitations to the private screenings at Scandinavia House
  • Not included: the private dinners (invitation only)

02 How it works

How it works

  1. 01Apply

    Fill in the form and add your deck as a PDF.

  2. 02We read it

    The festival team reads applications as they arrive, not after the deadline.

  3. 03You hear back

    Selected projects hear as soon as they’re picked. The last decisions follow the 10 November close.

Closes Tue 10 Nov 2026, 23:59 ET (time to be confirmed)

03 The application

Ten fields, one PDF

Have your pitch deck ready as a PDF, up to 20 MB: the deck you’d show an investor. Your details come first, then the project, then the deck.

Preview The form checks every field and confirms on the page. Nothing is sent yet.

Questions about the call or the form? Email the festival team.

office@festivalofthinking.com

About you1 of 3
Your project2 of 3
Your deck3 of 3

The festival is photographed and filmed for our records and our reports to partners. If you leave this unchecked, we won’t use images in which you can be recognised to promote the festival. You can change your mind at any time: office@festivalofthinking.com.

We read applications as they arrive. Up to 20 projects are selected.

Application received

Thanks. Your application is in.

We read applications as they arrive, and the decision comes by email to . Nothing else to do for now.

Register to attend →

04 Register to attend

Mornings and evenings

Mornings at ICR New York: a masterclass with two proposed mentors, open to registered guests. Evenings, 17:00–20:00 ET: talks at One Vanderbilt or a private screening at Scandinavia House. Pick your sessions, add your details once, send one request.

Seats are limited. Register by the day before, 23:59 ET: that’s when names go to each venue.

Pick your sessions

Step 1 of 3

Each day has a morning at ICR New York and an evening. In the evening the talks and the screening run at the same time, so one per evening. Friday 20 has the screening only.

Tue 17 Nov

Money, ideas & opportunity

Open · register by Mon 16 Nov

Morning · ICR New York

Learn · 10:00–12:00

Masterclass: How to Take an Idea International

Proposed mentors Mark Foligno and Dr. Daniela Maior, then coffee with the mentors

ICR New York, 200 East 38th Street

Then, until 16:00, 1:1 meetings for the 20 selected projects.

Evening · 17:00–20:00 · pick one

Think · Talks

Talks at One Vanderbilt

  1. 17:00Opening: Romania Meets New York
  2. 17:30Investing in Film — Why Stories Are an Asset
  3. 18:30Romania — The Business Opportunity You May Be Overlooking
  4. 19:25Capital Meets Creativity

One Vanderbilt Avenue, 60th floor

Watch · Screening + Q&A

A River’s Gaze

Then a Q&A with director Andreea Borțun

Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue

Wed 18 Nov

Human × technology

Open · register by Tue 17 Nov

Morning · ICR New York

Learn · 10:00–12:00

Masterclass: Technology, Immersion & the Future of Human Experience

Proposed mentors Nonny de la Peña and Prof. Rustam Stolkin, then coffee with the mentors

ICR New York, 200 East 38th Street

Then, until 16:00, 1:1 meetings for the 20 selected projects.

Evening · 17:00–20:00 · pick one

Think · Talks

Talks at One Vanderbilt

  1. 17:00AI Is Already Here. What Do We Do With It?
  2. 18:00AI × Film — Who Creates the Story?
  3. 19:00What Will Remain Human?

One Vanderbilt Avenue, 60th floor

Watch · Screening + Q&A

Fire and Ice, then Gone Guy

Both works in progress

Fire and Ice is a short film by Valentin Fogoroș. After Gone Guy, a Q&A with director Andrei Dăscălescu

Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue

Thu 19 Nov

From local to global

Open · register by Wed 18 Nov

Morning · ICR New York

Learn · 10:00–12:00

Masterclass: From Project to Global Audience

Proposed mentors Mark Foligno and Emilio Bogado, then coffee with the mentors

ICR New York, 200 East 38th Street

Then 1:1 meetings and The Next Step for the 20 selected projects.

Evening · 17:00–20:00 · pick one

Think · Talks

Talks at One Vanderbilt

  1. 17:00From Romania to the World — Who Controls Access?
  2. 18:00What Are Global Buyers Looking For?
  3. 19:00Romania Has a Seat at the Table

One Vanderbilt Avenue, 60th floor

Watch · Screening + Q&A

Grounded Between Borders

Work in progress

Then a Q&A with director Ligia Ciornei and producer Viorel Chesaru

Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue

Fri 20 Nov

Remarkable women & a special screening

Open · register by Thu 19 Nov

Morning · ICR New York

Learn · 11:00–12:30

Online vernissage + panel: Women in Leadership

The online opening of the Museum of Remarkable Women (PWN Romania), then a panel presented by Carmen Ciulian

ICR New York, 200 East 38th Street

No 1:1 meetings on Friday.

Evening · 17:00–20:00 · the screening

Watch · Screening + Q&A

Plaha, selected episodes

Then a Q&A with producer Ligia Ciornei and director of photography Cristian Gugu

Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue

The screening only: no talks on Friday.

Your sessions

None yet. Tap Add on a morning, the talks or the screening.

Your details

Step 2 of 3

Once, for every session you picked. Your name goes on each guest list.

The evenings are photographed and filmed for our records and our reports to partners. If you leave this unchecked, we won’t use images in which you can be recognised to promote the festival. You can change your mind at any time: office@festivalofthinking.com.

Seats are limited. One request covers every session you picked.
Preview: nothing is sent yet.

Request received

Step 3 of 3

Request received

We’ll email once the guest list is set. At the door, show a photo ID with the same name.

    1. 1Look for our email.
    2. 2Your name goes to each venue the day before.
    3. 3Bring your photo ID.

    How to get there →See the programme →

    Good to know

    • Mornings at ICR New York are open to registered guests. In the evening, one choice: talks and the screening run at the same time. Pick as many sessions as you like, in one request.
    • Register by the day before, 23:59 ET. That’s when names go to each venue.
    • Bring a photo ID with the same name. No walk-ins.
    • Selected through the call? You’re already on the guest lists. Dinners are by invitation only.
    See every session in the programme →

    Questions about a session or access? Email the festival team.

    office@festivalofthinking.com