The Festival of Thinking returns to Bucharest with the theme: Artificial Intelligence: Between Chaos and Balance

From October 30th to November 1st, 2025, Bucharest will host the second edition of the Festival of Thinking, the event that brings together art, business, and technology to transform bold ideas into real projects. This year’s edition, themed “Artificial Intelligence: Between Chaos and Balance”, invites us to see AI not as mere background noise of the present, but as a framework that organizes, explains, and amplifies human creativity.

Be part of the interdisciplinary dialogue between art, science, entrepreneurship, and technology.

The Festival of Thinking offers free access to its main conferences, mentoring sessions, one-on-one meetings, and workshops, as part of its commitment to creating a real space for applied education and interdisciplinary dialogue.

Students can register at: office@festivalofthinking.com

The general public is invited to attend the evening conferences, starting at 7:30 PM, at The Ark, where international guests and leading figures from film, technology, and business will discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on contemporary society.

Access is based on tickets, available on iabilet.ro.

Day 1 (October 30) – Understanding AI: Film, Education, Business

This conference provides the public with the opportunity to explore how technology impacts various industries — from film and education to entrepreneurship, investment, and research.
During the panels, international experts will discuss how AI can be understood and used as a creative tool, not just a technical resource.

Speakers: Meg Thomson, Rustam Stolkin, Andreea Artenie

Day 2 (October 31) – Minds and Machines

An interdisciplinary debate on collaboration between human and artificial thinking.
The public will have direct access to presentations by specialists from tech companies, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers, in an interactive format that encourages questions and open dialogue.

Speakers: Cesar Alan Contreras, Viorel Chesaru, Mălin Iulian Ștefănescu, Ștefan Căescu;

Day 3 (November 1) – Clash of Minds

The final conference brings to the stage the projects developed by students throughout the festival.
Selected participants will present their live pitches before mentors and investors, and the most innovative ideas will be awarded three distinct prizes of €1,000 each, offered by the festival’s partners.
The evening continues with discussions on the applicability of AI in business, followed by a networking cocktail, where guests, mentors, and participants can interact in an informal setting.

Speakers: Mark Foligno, Cristian Onețiu, Titus Ardeleanu;

Speakers shaping the conversation about the future

The 2025 edition brings together thought leaders and innovators from diverse fields — from AI, neuroscience, and emerging technology to theatre, film, architecture, and strategic communication.
Among the guests are university professors, creative entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and international artists who have redefined the limits of collaboration between humans and technology.
Through their talks and discussions, they will offer practical perspectives on how critical thinking, creativity, and ethics can guide industry transformation in the era of artificial intelligence.

The line-up blends academic, creative, and entrepreneurial perspectives in a series of conversations centered around one essential question: How can we use AI to create meaning, not just performance?

• Rustam Stolkin – Robotics and AI researcher, University of Birmingham; Director, UK National Centre for Nuclear Robotics
• Meg Thomson – Producer and Vice President, Globalgate Entertainment
• Mark Foligno – Producer, investor, and Oscar winner for The King’s Speech
• Cristian Onețiu – Entrepreneur and founder of Life Care
• Viorel Chesaru – Producer and CEO, Chainsaw Europe
• Cesar Alan Contreras – Neuroscience and Machine Learning researcher, Extreme Robotics Lab, UK
• Titus Ardeleanu – Investor and entrepreneur
• Alexandru Baltă – Professor and researcher in Game Design
• Andreea Artenie – Lawyer, angel investor, and Managing Partner, ASP
• Ionuț Ionescu – Producer and investor, Idea Film
• Bogdan Șerban – Radio personality, Radio Guerrilla;
• Alex Platon – Producer,  McCann;
• Toma Nicolau – Founder, Good Game Industry & Game Marketer
• Diana Gavra – Director, producer, and lecturer, SNSPA
• Gabriela Suciu – Producer and Vice-Dean, UNATC
• Ștefan Căescu – Marketing professor and Vice-Dean, ASE
• Vlad Popa – Finance & Technology, Bank of America
• Daniela Ionescu – AI Ethics researcher, Extreme Robotics Lab, UK
• Mălin Iulian Ștefănescu – Entrepreneur and angel investor, FR

The full program is available at: https://www.festivalofthinking.com/

Tickets are available here: https://www.iabilet.ro/bilete-ai-or-frame-the-chaos-117808/