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Festival of Thinking

Midtown ManhattanWith ICR New York

Film, Tech and Business in New York

17–20 Nov 2026Tue–Fri · New York

Mornings: a masterclass open to registered guests, then 1:1 mentoring for 20 selected projects. Evenings: talks or a private screening.

Apply with a project →

Ages 18–35, based in the US. Opens Thu 15 Oct

Register to attend →

Mornings at ICR New York and evenings. Register by the day before, 23:59 ET

[Archive] Festival of Thinking, a past edition · Bucharest

Where
ICR New York · One Vanderbilt · Scandinavia House
By day · 10:00–16:00, Tue–Thu
A masterclass for registered guests, then 1:1 mentoring for 20 selected projects
Evenings · 17:00–20:00, Tue–Fri
Talks (Tue–Thu) or a screening + Q&A, for registered guests
Dinner · 20:30, Tue–Thu
By invitation

01 What it is

From ideas to reality.

A festival built to turn ideas into real projects, across film, tech and business.

Mornings at ICR New York: a masterclass open to registered guests, then 1:1 mentoring for the 20 selected projects. Evenings: talks at One Vanderbilt or a private screening at Scandinavia House.

See the programme →

[01] Screenings + Q&A

Film

A private screening each evening at Scandinavia House, then a Q&A with the filmmakers.

On the programme · one screening a night
  1. Tue 17 Nov: A River’s Gaze
  2. Wed 18 Nov: Fire and Ice Work in progress, then Gone Guy Work in progress
  3. Thu 19 Nov: Grounded Between Borders Work in progress
  4. Fri 20 Nov: Plaha

[02] Human × technology

Tech

AI, immersive media and robotics, and what remains human in an age of intelligent machines.

On the programme · Wed 18 NovAI × Film — Who Creates the Story?

[03] Capital meets creativity

Business

Film financing, private capital and taking a project to international markets.

On the programme · Tue 17 NovInvesting in Film — Why Stories Are an Asset

20projects selected, ages 18–35, based in the US
8proposed mentors in film, tech and business
3masterclasses at ICR New York, open to registered guests
5Romanian titles in four private screenings

02 Two ways in

Apply or register

Presented with ICR New York

[A] You have a project

Apply with a project

Who
Ages 18–35, based in the US, solo or team
How many
Up to 20 projects
You get
Three masterclasses, 1:1 mentoring and invitations to the screenings
Where
ICR New York, Tue–Thu, 10:00–16:00
Apply with a project →

Opens Thu 15 Oct

[B] You want to attend

Register to attend

Mornings
A masterclass at ICR New York, 10:00–12:00, Tuesday to Thursday. Friday: a vernissage and a panel, 11:00–12:30
Evenings
Talks at One Vanderbilt or a private screening + Q&A at Scandinavia House, 17:00–20:00
Same time
Tuesday to Thursday, pick one each evening. Friday, the screening only
Deadline
Register by the day before, 23:59 ET
Register to attend →

Seats are limitedOpen

Invitation only Dinners are by invitation only.

03 One day, five stops

Learn, meet, think, watch, connect

Tuesday to Thursday, every day runs the same way. Mornings: a masterclass open to registered guests, then 1:1 mentoring for the 20 selected projects. Evenings: talks or a screening. Friday: a vernissage and a panel at ICR New York, then a last screening.

Full programme →
Learn[01] · 10:00–11:30
A speaker with a microphone at a past edition

Masterclass

One each morning, Tuesday to Thursday, taught by two proposed mentors with different expertise, then coffee with the mentors. Open to registered guests.

Where
ICR New York, 200 East 38th Street
When
10:00–11:30, Tue–Thu, then coffee until 12:00
Access
Registered guests
Meet[02] · 12:00–16:00
Two people shake hands in front of a screen

1:1 mentoring

Meetings matched to each of the 20 selected projects: financing, strategy, film, tech, legal and tax, going international.

Where
ICR New York
When
12:00–16:00, Tue–Thu
Access
Selected participants
Think[03] · 17:00–20:00
Three participants on stage

Talks at One Vanderbilt

Three or four talks each evening, Tuesday to Thursday, on film, investment, AI and global markets.

Where
One Vanderbilt Avenue, 60th floor
When
17:00–20:00, Tue–Thu
Access
Registered guests
Watch[04] · 17:00–20:00
An audience in a darkened room

Screening + Q&A at Scandinavia House

One screening a night, then a Q&A with the filmmakers. Tuesday to Thursday it runs at the same time as the talks, so pick one.

Where
Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue
When
17:00–20:00, Tue–Fri, all four evenings
Access
Registered guests
Connect[05] · 20:30
Guests in conversation

Dinner, by invitation

A private dinner on each of the first three nights, for 30–40 invited guests.

Where
Address shared with invited guests
When
20:30, Tue–Thu
Access
Invitation only

04 Four days · 17–20 November

One theme a day

All times ET. Mentors and sessions are subject to final confirmation.

  1. 10:00–11:30LearnMasterclass: How to Take an Idea InternationalICR New York · proposed mentors Mark Foligno and Dr. Daniela Maior · registered guests
  2. 12:00–16:00MeetCurated 1:1 project meetingsICR New York · selected participants
  3. 17:00–20:00ThinkFour talks: Romania Meets New York · Investing in Film · Romania — The Business Opportunity You May Be Overlooking · Capital Meets CreativityOne Vanderbilt · registered guests
  4. 17:00–20:00WatchA River’s Gaze, screening + Q&AScandinavia House · with director Andreea Borțun · registered guestsSame time as the talks · pick one
  5. 20:30ConnectPrivate Opening DinnerBy invitation
  1. 10:00–11:30LearnMasterclass: Technology, Immersion & the Future of Human ExperienceICR New York · proposed mentors Nonny de la Peña and Prof. Rustam Stolkin · registered guests
  2. 12:00–16:00MeetCurated 1:1 project meetingsICR New York · selected participants
  3. 17:00–20:00ThinkThree talks: AI Is Already Here · AI × Film · What Will Remain Human?One Vanderbilt · registered guests
  4. 17:00–20:00WatchFire and Ice Work in progress, then Gone Guy Work in progress, screening + Q&AScandinavia House · Fire and Ice, a short film by Valentin Fogoroș, then Gone Guy, with a Q&A with director Andrei Dăscălescu · registered guestsSame time as the talks · pick one
  5. 20:30ConnectTech × Film DinnerBy invitation
  1. 10:00–11:30LearnMasterclass: From Project to Global AudienceICR New York · proposed mentors Mark Foligno and Emilio Bogado · registered guests
  2. 12:00–16:00MeetCurated 1:1 meetings and The Next StepICR New York · selected participants
  3. 17:00–20:00ThinkThree talks: From Romania to the World · What Are Global Buyers Looking For? · Romania Has a Seat at the TableOne Vanderbilt · registered guests
  4. 17:00–20:00WatchGrounded Between Borders Work in progress, screening + Q&AScandinavia House · with director Ligia Ciornei and producer Viorel Chesaru · registered guestsSame time as the talks · pick one
  5. 20:30ConnectClosing Dinner: What’s Next?By invitation
  1. 11:00–11:30LearnOnline vernissage: Museum of Remarkable WomenICR New York · a digital initiative of PWN Romania · registered guests
  2. 11:30–12:30ThinkPanel: Women in LeadershipICR New York · presented by Carmen Ciulian, Vice President of the Museum of Remarkable Women, PWN Romania · registered guests
  3. 17:00–20:00WatchPlaha, selected episodes + Q&AScandinavia House · with producer Ligia Ciornei and director of photography Cristian Gugu · registered guestsThe last evening · no talks, no dinner
Full programme →Register to attend →

05 Crossings

Where the fields cross

The programme mixes film, tech and business. Each masterclass pairs two proposed mentors with different expertise.

  1. Film and businessMasterclass: How to Take an Idea InternationalProposed mentors Mark Foligno and Dr. Daniela MaiorTue 17 Nov, 10:00 · ICR New YorkRegistered guests
  2. Capital and creativityCapital Meets CreativityClosing cross-sector conversationTue 17 Nov, 19:25 · One VanderbiltRegistered guests
  3. Immersive media and roboticsMasterclass: Technology, Immersion & the Future of Human ExperienceProposed mentors Nonny de la Peña and Prof. Rustam StolkinWed 18 Nov, 10:00 · ICR New YorkRegistered guests
  4. AI and filmAI × Film — Who Creates the Story?AI, development, production, authorship and the economics of filmWed 18 Nov, 18:00 · One VanderbiltRegistered guests
  5. Film and global marketsWhat Are Global Buyers Looking For?Content, audiences, packaging, rights and international market positioningThu 19 Nov, 18:00 · One VanderbiltRegistered guests
Full programme →

06 Who you meet

Eight mentors

Three in tech, three in business, two in film. Participation subject to final confirmation.

All mentors →
Mark Foligno*Executive Producer, The King’s Speech. Masterclasses, Day 1 and Day 3. Nonny de la Peña*Founder, Emblematic Group. Masterclass, Day 2. Prof. Rustam Stolkin*Professor of Robotics, University of Birmingham. Masterclass, Day 2. Emilio Bogado*Luxury hospitality and investment executive. Masterclass, Day 3. Dr. Daniela Maior*Partner and Co-Founder, VERTIK Group; President, ARIR. Masterclass Day 1, 1:1 meetings. Malin Iulian Ștefănescu*Technology executive and angel investor. 1:1 meetings. Andreea Artenie*Managing Partner, Artenie, Secrieru & Partners. 1:1 meetings. Gabriela Suciu-Pădurețu*Vice Dean, Film Faculty, UNATC Bucharest. 1:1 meetings.

*Participation subject to final confirmation. Photo of Nonny de la Peña: Fuzheado, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Partners & supporters

All partners →
  • Organised by
  • Noetic Ark
  • Strategic partners
  • Romanian Cultural Institute in New York
  • UNATC “I. L. Caragiale” Bucharest
  • Partners
  • UPFAR-ARGOA
  • Creative Romanian Film Makers
  • eTheatrum
  • Uniunea Cineaștilor din România (UCIN)
  • VERTIK Together
  • Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce, Connecticut Chapter
  • American Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • RomAmPro
  • ASU California Center, Arizona State University
  • Hosted at
  • UiPath
  • Scandinavia House
A speaker with a microphone at Festival of Thinking
Bucharest
Two participants shake hands in front of the festival screen
A speaker in front of a projected city drawing
Guests talking between sessions
Bucharest
A participant presenting with a microphone
Three participants on stage

07 Past editions

The people in the room

  • Founders
  • Filmmakers
  • Researchers
  • Investors

“Science, art, technology and business — all in one place” was the line on our 2025 banner in Bucharest. Three projects picked at the Bucharest edition in August, by Norbert Boda, Vlad Popa and Enxhi Rista, are part of the New York cohort.

Who you meet →

Photos: Festival of Thinking, past editions in Bucharest

08 Bucharest → New York

From Bucharest to New York

New York, local time—

Bucharest, local time—

During the festival, 17:00 in New York is midnight in Bucharest.

Lat 40.7527° N
Lon 73.9772° W
Grand Central, Midtown East

  1. Bucharest27–30 Aug 2026 · Completed
  2. New York17–20 Nov 2026 · Next

Bucharest was 27–30 August 2026. New York is next: four days, 17–20 November 2026.

The New York cohort →

09 Near Grand Central

Three venues, a short walk apart

Grand Central–42 St serves all three venues. Entry is by guest list: names go to each venue the day before.

See the route map →How to get there →
A 3D map of Midtown East: ICR New York, Scandinavia House and One Vanderbilt in violet, joined by the walking route
[3D map] Midtown East · the three venues and the walk in violet ICR → Scandinavia House 5 minScandinavia House → One Vanderbilt 6 minICR → One Vanderbilt 11 min Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
  1. [01]ICR New York200 East 38th StreetLearn and meet · Tue–Thu, 10:00–16:00 · Fri, 11:00–12:305 min to Scandinavia House
  2. [02]One VanderbiltOne Vanderbilt Avenue, 60th floorThink · Tue–Thu, 17:00–20:00Connected to Grand Central–42 St
  3. [03]Scandinavia House58 Park AvenueWatch · Tue–Fri, 17:00–20:006 min to One Vanderbilt
  4. [◆]DinnerBy invitationConnect · Tue–Thu, 20:30Address shared with invited guests