Mentors · New York · 17–20 November 2026
Eight proposed mentors from film, tech and business: the masterclasses, open to registered guests, and the 1:1 meetings for the selected projects. Each screening ends with a Q&A with its filmmakers.
*Participation subject to final confirmation. Credentials as printed in the programme.
Presented with ICR New York
Photo of Nonny de la Peña: Fuzheado, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Other photos: Festival of Thinking.
Dr. Daniela Maior*Partner & Co-Founder, VERTIK Group · President, ARIRMasterclass Tue 17 Nov and 1:1 meetings01 International mentors
FilmExecutive Producer of the Academy Award-winning The King’s Speech. Extensive experience in film financing, production and international industry strategy.
FocusFilm investment, creative development, packaging and global market strategy.
TechPhoto: Fuzheado, CC BY 4.0Pioneer of immersive journalism and founder of Emblematic Group, known for groundbreaking work in virtual, mixed and augmented reality.
FocusImmersive storytelling, emerging media and technology.
Professor of Robotics at the University of Birmingham, Chair in Robotics and Royal Society Industry Fellow, and leader of the Extreme Robotics Lab. His work spans robotics, AI, machine learning and human-robot interaction.
FocusRobotics, AI, machine learning and human-robot interaction.
International luxury hospitality and investment executive with senior experience at Belmond. Background in global development and acquisitions, investment banking, private equity and international hotel development.
FocusEntrepreneurship, investment, leadership, luxury hospitality and cross-border business development.
02 Romanian mentors
Curated 1:1 project meetings at ICR New York, three afternoons, Tuesday to Thursday, 12:00–16:00 (Thursday until 15:30, then The Next Step). Each selected project is matched to the mentors who fit it.
Dr. Daniela Maior*Partner & Co-Founder, VERTIK Group · President, ARIR
Partner and Co-Founder of VERTIK Group and President and Co-Founder of ARIR. Specialist in capital markets, investor relations and corporate financing, with more than 18 years of experience; also an active business angel.
BusinessMasterclass, Tue 17 Nov1:1 meetings
Gabriela Suciu-Pădurețu*Vice Dean, Film Faculty, UNATC Bucharest
Lecturer, PhD and Vice Dean of the Film Faculty at UNATC Bucharest. Focus: film production, education and the development of emerging filmmakers.
Film1:1 meetings
03 Screening guests
Four private screenings at Scandinavia House, one each evening from Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 November, 17:00–20:00, each followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Tuesday to Thursday they run at the same time as the talks at One Vanderbilt, so pick one. Registered guests; the 20 selected projects are invited.
Register for a screening →
Ligia CiorneiDirector, Grounded Between Borders Work in progressProducer, PlahaCEO, Festival of Thinking
WatchThu 19 Nov · Day 3Fri 20 Nov · Day 4
04 Also in the New York cohort
Norbert Boda, Vlad Popa and Enxhi Rista, selected at the Bucharest edition (27–30 August 2026), are part of the New York cohort: masterclasses, 1:1 meetings and the screenings. Not the dinners.
The call for projects runs 15 October – 10 November 2026.
[A] You have a project
The 1:1 meetings are for the 20 selected projects. Ages 18–35, based in the US, solo or team.
Call for projects15 Oct – 10 Nov
