16 OCT 2026

WELCOME TO CREATECH SUMMIT SEE 2026

Mark your calendars for the fourth edition of CreaTech Summit South-East Europe, scheduled to unfold on October 16th, 2026, at the vibrant venue of Toplocentrala, Sofia!
Register

WHY JOIN CREATECH SUMMIT SEE 2026?

INTERNATIONAL REACH

Propel your CreaTech enterprise onto the international stage in South-Eastern Europe. Network with visionaries and explore international opportunities.

EXPERT NETWORKING

Engage with professionals in Film, TV, Game Development, Design, and Immersive Technologies and many more. Share insights, experiences, and build valuable connections.

INNOVATION ACCELERATOR

Stay ahead with accelerated business model evolution. Discover the latest industry trends and technologies to stay at the forefront of innovation.

PARTNERSHIP BOOST

Catalyze impactful local and international collaborations.

CONTENT THEMES

cinema

game development

design

immersive technology

SPEAKERS

Genoveva Christova - Murray

CreaTech Bulgaria

Georgi Kanev

Kanev Lukaev Law Firm

Dr. Emil Lukaev

Kanev Lukaev Law Firm

Georgi Iliev

10centric

Charles-Philippe Bowles

Brunch Studio

Pietro Rossi

RedStone Productions

Lars T. Moen

Ragdoll

Cvetan Rusimov

Imperia Online

Nikola Filipov

White Wolf / Paradox Interactive

Georgi Dinchev

Creative Assembly Sofia

Martin Rusev

Marketing Director
Ex-Wooga / Playtika

Dimo Dimov

Gameloft

Clive Lucking

Studio Alliance

Ekin Taşkın

TABU Solutions

Georgiana Vînău

CR.EU – Creativity Europe Metacluster

Kaloyan Vasilev

KV Design
test

Ivomir Slavov

LIGNA GROUP

Yana Popova

OURHOOD

Alfonso Perez Soto

AMP Global

Ina Tsenova

Reanne Leuning

ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA

Pigalle Tavakkoli

School of Experience Design

Kati Uusi-Rauva

EIT Culture & Creativity North

Vladislav Iliev

studio Phormatik & Videnie Immersive Space

Adrien Bacchi

CHIBI PHOENIX

Stoyan Stoyanov

Elektrick Me

Zakk Zahariev

Big Bite Records

Anja Lenhart

Core team ESC Vienna 2026

Petya Koleva

Intercultura Consult

Viktor Ketipov

Kipi Interactive

Bisser Dyankov

Haemimont Games

Julian Mihov

PWC Bulgaria

Elena Kitanova

Elena Kitanov Paris

Dr. Diana Andreeva - Popyordanova

Observatory of Cultural Economics

Ahinora

BG Content

Giacomo Rozzo

iL Prisma

Mihail Dichev

Leon Audio and AudioWizz

John Murray

Growthclusters UK

Councillor Harry Doyle

Liverpool City Council

Miroslav Naskov

Mind Design; Dom World

Florent Point

Tencent Cloud

AGENDA

AGENDA

HALL 1

9:30–10:00

Registration and welcome coffee
Participant check-in, event materials and first networking opportunities.

10:00–10:30

Official Opening
Boyko Takov
Mira Yossifova, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation
Genoveva Christova-Murray
Veselin Dimov
Ivan Hristov,
Andey Arnaudov
Ahinora

10:30–11:10

Europe’s Creative Future: Human Imagination as a Strategic Advantage

Kati Uusi Rauva, EIT Culture and Creativty North
Georgiana Vînău, Creativity Europe Meta-Cluster
Dr. Diana Andreeva - Popyordanova - Observatory of Cultural Economics
Yulian Mihov, PwC, moderator

11:10–11:30

Clive Lucking, Studio Alliance: Redefining the Purpose of the Workplace

11:30–12:10

Pigalle Tavakkoli, School of Experience Design The Experience Economy: Designing Emotions for Impact

12:10–12:30

Ekin Taskin, TABU Solutions - Designing a Hub for a Creative Ecosystem: Lessons from İzmir

12:30–13:30

Lunch & Networking

13:30–13:55

Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council - ESC Liverpool 2023: From Eurovision Host City to Lasting Legacy

13:55–14:20

Anja Lenhart, Core team ESC Vienna 2026: Impact and emotions designed by TV productions

14:20–15:00

Panel: Festival Cities - Building Economies and Strengthening Communities
Reane Leuning, Advantage Austria
Anja Lenhart, Core team ESC Vienna 2026
Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council
Genoveva Christova - Murray, CreaTech Bulgaria

15:00–15:15

Break

15:15 - 15:40

Alfonso Perez Soto, AMP Global: The Future of Music

15:45 - 16:10

Petya Koleva, Intercultura Consult:
Digital creativity - intangible and unlimited

16:10 - 16:35

Miroslav Naskov, Mind Design; Dom World: Designing What Matters: Human Judgment in the Age of AI

16:35 – 17:00

Adrien Bacchi, Chibi Phoenix: Transmedia & AI: The Pipeline From Story to Game

17:00 – 17:25

Vladislav Iliev, Studio Phormatik: Beyond the Screen: AI, VR and the Future of Immersive Creativity

17:25 – 17:50

John Murray, Growthclusters UK: UNDER A SOFIA SKY - Creative Industries 2030+

18:00 - 21:00

Networking Cocktail - join us at the terace!

Hall 2

10:30- 11:00

Antelope Audio Presentation

11:00 – 12:30

Workshop: Mixing RZA (WuTang Clan) A Ballet Through Mud in Dolby Atmos

Pietro Rossi A practical workshop demonstrating Dolby Atmos mixing techniques for orchestral recording, incorporating cutting-edge production methods. Followed by an open Q&A with Pietro Rossi.

12:30–13:30

 Lunch break

13:30–15:00

Dolby Atmos Mixing for Picture

How do music, sound design and dialogue share one Dolby Atmos mix without getting in each other's way? At CreaTech Summit, Zakk Zahariev, founder of the Sofia studio Big Bite Records, walks through the workflow in two parts:
01 · Mixing Music for Picture: letting the score serve the shot without losing itself.
02 · Music Meets Sound Design and Dialogue in the Atmos Mix: how the three layers share the space in one mix.
The talk takes place in the summit's immersive room, on a calibrated 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system by Antelope Audio. Big Bite Records creates music, sound design and Atmos mixes for clients including Ubisoft, Netflix Games and Kingsmen.

15:15 - 16:45

Panel: Artificial Intelligence vs Artist Intelligence in Animation

Charles-Philippe Bowles (Brunch Studios)
Stani Milev (Chase a Cloud)
Stoyan Stoyanov (Elektrick Me)
Lars T. Moen (Ragdoll Entertainment)

16:45 - 18:00

ATMOS Listening Sessions

A selection of Dolby Atmos Mixed Music and Film for the audience to experience

CAFE

11:00 – 12:30

The Next Generation of Film Creators, Pitching Session 

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 - 14:00

The Next Generation of Film Creators: Award Ceremony

14:00 - 14:25

Kaloyan Vasilev, KV Design: Introducing DOPIR: Vision, Objectives and Approach

14:25 - 15:05

Panel: The Ritual of Becoming - When Design Becomes an Experience

Yana Popova, OURHOOD
Ivomir Slavov, Ligna Group

15:05 - 15:30

Giacomo Rozzo, Il Prisma: Beyond the Answers: In Search of New Meaning

15:30 - 15:55

Elena Kitanova, Elena Kitanov Paris: When Heritage Becomes a Signature – The Triumph of Bulgarian Embroidery in Paris and a New Interpretation of Cultural Heritage in the Creative Industries

16:30 - 18:00

Panel: AI Without the Token Bill
Florent Point, Tencent
Cloud Georgi Iliev, 10Centric

Bar stage

11:00–12:30

Creative Europe Café – Individual Artists

14:00–16:00

Creative Europe Café – Organizations

HALL 4

11:30 – 12:30

Creativity, Intellectual Property and AI: Navigating Innovation in the Digital Age with Kanev & Lukaev Law Firm

12:30 - 13:30

Lunch Break

13:30 - 14:30

Legal Clinic: Ask the Lawyers with Kanev & Lukaev Law Firm

14:30 - 15:30

Mobile Games — F2P, Retention & Monetization within the era of AI

Martin Rusev (ex-Wooga) – Moderator
Ina Tsenova
Dimo Dimov (Gameloft Sofia)
Cvetan Rusimov (Imperia Online)

15:30 - 16:30

Panel: PC/Console — Building Successful Games
Nikola Filipov (Paradox Interactive) – Moderator
Viktor Ketipov (Kipi Interactive)
Bisser Dyankov (Haemimont Games / Paradox)
Georgi Dinchev (Creative Assembly)

Sofia Planetarium

10:00-16:00

Immersive digital planetarium as a business opportunity


    Two space movies (every 30 minutes)

    JOIN US

    Join us for this extraordinary gathering, meticulously organized by CreaTech Bulgaria and generously supported by:

    logo_ministry-white
    EN_Co-fundedbythe--WHITE

    MEDIA PARTNERS

    Project № BG16RFPR001-1.013-0001

    „Implementation of measures for the internationalization of the Bulgarian SMEs by supporting the activities of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) – Phase 2“, funded by the Programme “Competitiveness and Innovations in Enterprises” 2021–2027, co-financed by the European Union

    office@createch-bulgaria.com
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    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

    Genoveva Christova-Murray

    CreaTech Bulgaria

    Genoveva Christova-Murray is the President of CreaTech Bulgaria, a national cluster dedicated to bridging the creative industries and emerging technologies. With over two decades of experience in strategic planning, business strategy and new business development, she works to unite Eastern European studios, startups and enterprises with global markets to foster innovation, competitiveness and growth in sectors such as gaming, digital media and immersive technologies. She is also the Founder and Managing Director of Ligna Group and Ligna Studios, where she leads strategic and business development, marketing and PR, focusing on high-end, design-driven solutions for international markets. As President of the Bulgarian Furniture Cluster, she supports strategy development, promotion, networking and internationalization for SMEs and design studios, and advocates for Bulgaria as a competitive hub for creative industries and innovation.

    Link

    Georgi Kanev

    Kanev Lukaev Law Firm

    Georgi Kanev is an experienced digital and technology lawyer with more than 15 years of experience advising prominent international, regional and local businesses on complex legal and regulatory matters. He focuses on fast-moving sectors such as technology, video games and media. His experience includes cross-border mandates, market entry and product launches, working closely with innovative founders and established businesses. His practice covers intellectual property, AI, data privacy, digital regulation, consumer protection, online safety, e-commerce, advertising, unfair competition and commercial law. 

    Title of Talk: Artists, AI and IP: Who Owns Creativity?

    Talk Description:     The discussion will explore how AI uses existing works and whether this may infringe artists’ rights, with reference to recent international cases. We will consider whether AI-generated or AI-assisted works can be protected, whether the use of AI must be disclosed, and how the concept of the “AI artist” is evolving. Finally, we will discuss whether creators should avoid AI or embrace it thoughtfully and strategically.

    Link

    Emil Lukaev

    Kanev Lukaev Law Firm

    Dr. Emil Lukaev has more than 12 years of experience advising multinational and domestic businesses, investors, executives, SMEs and high-net-worth individuals across sectors including technology, e-commerce, retail, FMCG, and financial services. He advises on commercial matters, cross-border transactions, reorganisations and market-entry strategies. Emil also supports portfolio companies with corporate governance and day-to-day operations. His broader practice covers compliance, employment and workforce mobility, real estate, commercial agreements, securities, dispute resolution and consumer protection. 

    Title of Talk: Legal Clinic: Ask the Lawyers with Georgi Kanev and Dr. Emil Lukaev

    Talk Description: Bring your questions and get practical legal guidance on trademarks and brand protection; protecting ideas, trade secrets and recipes; motivating and retaining employees through share incentive plans; choosing the right legal form for your business and attracting investors; and working with freelancers and other service providers. An informal, interactive session focused on the legal questions that matter to you and your business. Please frame questions in general terms, as the lawyers will provide practical legal information rather than advice on individual cases.

    Link

    Charles-Philippe Bowles

    Brunch Stuido

    Charles-Philippe is Brunch Studio’s Franco-British Managing Executive Producer. After graduating from the University of Nottingham in French, Russian and Eastern European Civilisations in 2013, he moved to Paris to study film production at Gobelins.

    He began his career in animation at Eddy, where he worked on Brunch’s first videogame cinematic, the opening film for Ghost Recon: Wildlands. After four years as Editor-in-Chief of a US based men’s lifestyle publication, he returned to animation as a Production Manager at Blue Spirit, working on series including HBO’s Gremlins and Blue Eye Samurai.

    Returning to Brunch and Eddy as a Line Producer, he expanded into screenwriting and creative development, bringing his editorial background to pitches and original projects. His work has since focused primarily on videogame short films, music videos and trailers, including Bethesda’s 2D The Settled Systems trilogy for Starfield and Riot’s Linkin Park music video for League of Legends Worlds 2024.

    Following the conclusion of Brunch and Eddy’s partnership, Charles-Philippe joined Brunch permanently as its sole client-facing producer. As the studio earned the trust of increasingly ambitious partners and took on high-profile projects including Valorant’s Why We Fight, TFT’s Still Legendary and World of Warcraft’s A Place To Call Home, he piloted the creation of a fully-integrated production department to support the studio’s growing ambitions, which he continues to lead today.

    Link

    Pietro Rossi

    RedStone Productions

    Pietro Rossi is an award-winning Recording Engineer, Producer, Mixer, Educator, and Dolby Atmos specialist with over 15 years of international experience in music production and immersive audio.

    Originally from Italy, Pietro holds an Honours degree in Music Science from the University of Rome and is the founder of Redstone Productions. Alongside his production work, he has spent more than a decade as a lecturer at SAE Institute Amsterdam, where he has helped train the next generation of audio professionals.

    His credits include collaborations with artists such as RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), Gaby Moreno, Adel Tawil, Michael Schulte, Joseph Arthur, Earl Slick, and The Colorado Symphony Orchestra. As a producer for the Lennon Bus, he contributed to over 100 recording projects while working with artists across Europe and North America.

    Pietro has become a leading educator in immersive audio, working with Dolby to develop and deliver Dolby Atmos training programs for universities and professional institutions across Europe. In 2023, he joined the Wu-Tang Clan’s New York State of Mind Orchestra Tour, where he mixed RZA’s orchestral project A Ballet Through Mud in Dolby Atmos.

    Drawing on extensive experience in recording, mixing, education, and immersive audio production, Pietro brings a practical, industry-focused perspective to modern music production and Dolby Atmos workflows.

    Title of Talk:     Beyond Stereo: Mixing RZA’s Orchestral Album “ A Ballet Through Mud” in Dolby Atmos

    Talk Description: Join award-winning recording engineer, producer, and Dolby Atmos specialist Pietro Rossi for an exclusive masterclass exploring the evolution of modern music production—from recording artists in the world’s most advanced mobile studio to mixing orchestral music in Dolby Atmos.

    Through real-world case studies, behind-the-scenes stories, and an immersive listening demonstration, attendees will gain insight into professional recording workflows, immersive music production, and the creative possibilities of spatial audio.

    Link

    Lars T. Moen

    Ragdoll

    Lars T. Moen is the founder and CEO of Ragdoll, a creative agency and production company specialising in “videos for video games”: trailers, cinematics, CGI, in-game cutscenes, live action commercials and behind-the-scenes documentaries. His work includes trailers for Dune: Awakening, Raft, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, War Robots: Frontiers, Metal: Hellsinger and many other indie and AAA games.

    Title of Talk:     Artificial Intelligence vs Artist Intelligence in Animation

    Link

    Cvetan Rusimov

    Imperia Online

    Cvetan Rusimov is the CEO of Imperia Online, one of the largest game developers and publishers in Southeastern Europe, based in Sofia. A game industry professional with 15 years of management experience in executive leadership roles, he joined the industry in 2005 and has taken part in every stage of the game lifecycle, from development and localization to marketing and publishing. Through strong interpersonal communication, he grew a team of nine into a million-dollar company. His expertise covers strategy, P&L planning, business development and key metrics, along with proven negotiation skills in publishing deals, IP licensing and acquisitions.

    Link

    Nikola Filipov

    Paradox Interactive

    Nikola Filipov is Director of Licensing at White Wolf, Paradox Interactive. He oversees the World of Darkness portfolio, including the Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse franchises. His work spans entertainment licensing across video games, publishing, film and television, consumer products, and more. He leads partnerships that bring the World of Darkness universe into new formats and new audiences.

    Title of Talk: Building Successful PC/Console Games: Funding, IP & Discoverability

    Talk Description: What does it take to turn a good game into a successful one? From IP and funding to discoverability, this panel dives into the forces shaping the modern games industry. Industry experts with different perspectives will share what gets a game funded, what makes it stand out, and what it takes to find an audience in an increasingly crowded market.

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    Georgi Dinchev

    Creative Assembly Sofia

    Gamer. Co-founder of 3dzone.bg, Bulgaria’s first online gaming portal. Worked as a writer, designer and later Art Director of the cult gaming magazine Gamers’ Workshop. He went on to co-found the multimedia company Eighth Art, which developed web-based games for global brands and organizations including ESL, Intel, BMW and Adidas, and created UGDB.com, one of the earliest social networks built for gamers. After the 2008 financial crisis he joined Crytek Black Sea as a Producer, and in 2017, when the studio became part of SEGA Europe, he became Studio Director of Creative Assembly Sofia, where he also played a key role in relocating SEGA’s QA operations from London to Sofia.

    Title of Panel: PC/ Console

    Panel Description: Discussion about development and production of PC and Console games

     
    Link

    Martin Rusev

    EX Wooga / Consulting

    Martin Rusev is Product Marketing leader with a track record of bringing products and initiatives to market end-to-end – combining strategy, execution, and cross-functional leadership to drive measurable growth.

    In his recent work, he’s led several high-impact initiatives from concept to launch, including end-to-end integration of major IP partnerships such as Wicked and Agatha Christie into June’s Journey – shaping the business case, positioning, go-to-market strategy, and cross-channel execution  

    Title of Talk: AI in F2p 

    Link

    Dimo Dimov

    Gameloft

    Dimo Dimov is Vice President of Live Games at Gameloft, overseeing a global portfolio of live titles and teams across multiple studios. With over 19 years in the games industry, his experience spans game production, product strategy, monetization, Live Ops, and free-to-play. Today, his focus is on evolving established live games, building new F2P experiences, and exploring how AI can reshape game development, player engagement, and monetization.

    Title of Talk: F2P, Retention & Monetization within the era of AI

    Talk Description: How is AI reshaping the fundamentals of successful free-to-play games? This panel explores its impact across the player lifecycle, from acquisition and onboarding to retention, Live Ops, personalization, and monetization, while discussing where AI can create real value for both players and game teams.

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    Clive Lucking

    Studio Alliance

    Clive Lucking is one of Europe’s leading experts in workplace design and fit-out, with over 30 years spent creating award-winning offices for occupiers, landlords, coworking operators and real estate teams. He’s the founder of Studio Alliance – Europe’s first workplace alliance – bringing together top firms in consultancy, design, fit-out and furnishing to deliver projects internationally. This gives Clive a front-row view of how the global workplace is evolving

    Title of Talk: Redefining the Purpose of the Workplace

    Talk Description: The office is no longer just a place to work — it’s a cultural catalyst, shaping creativity, belonging, and performance. As we redefine its purpose, we ask: why do we still need an office?

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    Ekin Taşkın

    TABU Solutions

    Ekin Taşkın is a leading international expert in cluster excellence, innovation ecosystems, and industrial transformation, with over 25 years of experience designing and delivering high-impact programmes across Europe and Türkiye. He has worked extensively in more than 12 countries, collaborating with public institutions, international organisations, and industry stakeholders to strengthen cluster ecosystems and drive SME competitiveness.

    As General Manager of TABU Solutions Consultancy, he has led numerous EU-funded and international technical assistance projects, operating at the intersection of competitiveness, innovation, and green transition. His expertise covers cluster excellence benchmarking, strategic roadmap development, value chain transformation, and institutional capacity building

    Title of Talk: Designing a Hub for a Creative Ecosystem: Lessons from İzmir

    Talk Description: Drawing on the experience of the EU-funded Create in İzmir project, the session will focus on the practical building blocks of hub development: ecosystem mapping, stakeholder engagement, community building, support services, entrepreneurship programmes, international collaboration and long-term sustainability. It will also share key lessons from İzmir on how to move from fragmented creative actors towards a more connected, visible and collaborative creative industries ecosystem.

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    Georgiana Vînău

    CR.EU – Creativity Europe Metacluster

    Georgiana Vînău is President of OpenHub Creative Cluster Romania and Vice-President of CR.EU – Creativity Europe, the European metacluster for cultural and creative industries. Working from Galați, she has spent the last 5 years connecting Romanian creative SMEs to European networks, funding and markets, and represents the region in policy dialogue with European institutions.

    Title of Talk: Artistic Intelligence needs infrastructure too

    Talk Description: Drawing on work with OpenHub Creative Cluster in Romania and the CR.EU – Creativity Europe Metacluster, this session argues that creative IP is infrastructure, and should be funded, protected and measured as such. It looks at what clusters can realistically deliver where national policy is absent, what the next five years of European and national policy must change, and how regional ecosystems can move from subcontracting to ownership.

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    Kaloyan Vasilev

    DOPIR

    Kaloyan Vasilev is a designer and founder of KV Design Ltd, a studio known for high-end furniture in wood and epoxy resin and for Haute Charpenterie, its line of collectible sculptural furniture. He studied in Vienna and holds an engineering degree from the Forestry University in Sofia. In 2024 he won “Furniture of the Year” in Bulgaria in the “Chairs and Tables” category with the Smart Desk, and the Five Dimensions Bench, first presented at the Museo Bagatti Valsecchi during Milan Design Week in 2025, earned the same title in 2026. That year he also organized and curated DOPIR at Casa Bagatti Valsecchi, the first Bulgarian pavilion at Fuorisalone, bringing together Bulgarian and international artists and designers. His work pushes materials and conventions to redefine furniture as a statement of form, emotion and innovation.

    Title of Talk: Introducing DOPIR

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    Ivomir Slavov

    Ligna

    LIGNA × OURHOOD is a Bulgarian design collaboration exploring the relationship between material, space and human experience. Bringing together creative vision, craftsmanship and production, the collaboration creates objects and spatial experiences rooted in natural materials and thoughtful design.

    Title of Talk:     The Ritual of Becoming – When Design Becomes an Experience

    Talk Description: Following its presentation at Milan Design Week 2026 , LIGNA × OURHOOD open the process behind The Ritual of Becoming – exploring how material, sound, space and collaboration transform an idea into an experience.

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    Yana Popova

    OURHOOD

    Yana Popova is the founder and creative director of OURHOOD, a furniture and interior brand shaped by craftsmanship, sustainability, and an understanding of how space influences the way we live and feel. With an academic background in graphic design and over a decade of building her own brand, she works at the intersection of product, brand vision, and business development. Her focus is handcrafted furniture from premium FSC-certified solid wood, now developed toward B2B collaborations in hospitality, workplace, and residential environments across Europe. She also created OURHOOD Home, a conceptual showroom and event space in the heart of Sofia that has hosted inspiring gatherings for the past four years, and is expanding internationally through OURHOOD Barcelona, a cultural and design bridge connecting communities, spaces, and collaborations. 

    Title of Talk: The Ritual of Becoming – When Design Becomes an Experience

    Talk Description:     Following its presentation at Milan Design Week 2026 , LIGNA × OURHOOD open the process behind The Ritual of Becoming – exploring how material, sound, space and collaboration transform an idea into an experience.

    Link

    Alfonso Perez Soto

    AMP Global

    Alfonso Perez Soto is the Co-Founder and CEO of AMP Global, a music investment platform focused on acquiring and scaling music intellectual property and creative businesses across emerging markets. With more than 25 years of experience, he is recognized as one of the leading executives in the global music industry, having previously served as President of Emerging Markets and EVP, Corporate Development at Warner Music Group. Throughout his career, Alfonso has led international expansion, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Eastern Europe. He is passionate about connecting capital, culture, and creativity to unlock long-term value in music

    Title of Talk: The Future of Music

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    Ina Tsenova

    Mobile Games

    Ina Tsenova a Product Manager based in Barcelona, working in the mobile games industry on one of the world’s leading F2P titles. She currently focuses on LiveOps, player experience, retention and monetization, using her past background in analytics to combine data-informed decision making with product strategy and experimentation. She is particularly interested in how established games can continue to evolve, create meaningful experiences for players and deliver sustainable long-term growth.

    Title of Panel: Mobile Games — F2P, Retention & Monetization within the era of AI

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    Reanne Leuning

    ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA

    Since 2008, Reanne Leuning has been responsible for the internationalisation programmes for the Austrian creative industries at ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, Austria’s trade promotion and innovation agency, with more than 100 offices in 70 countries.

    Through consulting, financial support and the organisation of exhibitions, showcases, B2B matchmaking events, conferences and business missions, her work focuses on creating international business opportunities for Austrian designers and manufacturers, music industry professionals, fashion labels, filmmakers and other creative entrepreneurs. Since 2022, she has also served as Deputy Chair of Kreativwirtschaft Austria (Creative Industries Austria).

    Title of Panel: Festival Cities: Building Economies and Strengthening Communities

    Link

    Pigalle Tavakkoli

    School of Experience Design

    Pigalle Tavakkoli is the Founder and Director of the School of Experience Design, author of The Experience Design Building Blocks guidebook, award-winning educator, trainer and consultant, and an international keynote speaker. A pioneer and leading specialist in the art and science of Experience Design, she educates individuals, equips teams, and empowers global brands from The Guardian to Apple how to design emotions, shift perspectives, and influence behaviour for lasting impact. Her Experience Design system and science-backed building block methods combine strategy, creativity, psychology and neuroscience to intentionally craft meaningful, memorable, and transformative experiences. Pigalle is also passionate to support the next generation of change-makers as a Council Member of the World Experience Organization (WXO), Jury Member for the Unicorn Awards, and Board Member of the World Future Awards.

    Title of Talk: The Experience Economy: Designing Emotions for Impact

    Talk Description: Discover the global growth of the Experience Economy, and why designing experiences is vital for organisations and brands to stay relevant and maintain competitive edge in fast moving disruptive times. Come away with science-based insights, thought provoking perspectives, and applicable methods to go beyond designing what client and customers experience externally, to intentionally craft their internal emotions, thoughts and behaviour for unforgettable and lasting impact.

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    Kati Uusi-Rauva

    EIT Culture & Creativity North

    Director of EIT Culture & Creativity regional hub North. Since the late 1990s, Kati has been specializing in cultural and creative business development, e.g. helping companies in business model building in design, audiovisual, games and fashion industries, as well as supporting creative sector professionals and companies in exports, internationalization, and securing funding. During her 25+ year career, she has held various prositions, including producer at a gaming company, independent agent and entrepreneur, and CCSI expert in business development, funding programs and export initiatives. Before joining EIT Culture & Creativity, she led the Finnish association of agents and managers in creative industries during 2014-2022, and a pre-incubator at the University of the Arts Helsinki in 2022-24. 

    Title of Panel: Europe’s Creative Future: Human Imagination as a Strategic Advantage

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    Vladislav Iliev

    Studio Phormatik & Videnie Immersive Space

    Vladislav Iliev is a visual artist, scenographer and creative director, founder of Studio Phormatik and co-founder and artistic director of VIDENIE, a space for digital and immersive arts in Sofia. His practice focuses on 3D mapping, interactive installations, VR/MR, stage technologies and the use of AI as a tool in the creative process. Since 2016 he has taught video mapping as a guest lecturer at the National Academy of Arts and has taken part in international festivals, forums and projects in the field of new media and immersive art.

    Title of Talk: Beyond the Screen: AI, VR and the Future of Immersive Creativity

    Talk Description: The lecture explores how artificial intelligence, virtual reality and mixed reality are changing the way we create and experience art. Drawing on the practice of VIDENIE, a space for digital and immersive arts in Sofia, Vladislav Iliev will present real examples of how new technologies take creativity beyond the screen and produce interactive, spatial and adaptive experiences, in which technology becomes a tool for new forms of storytelling.

    Link

    Adrien Bacchi

    CHIBIPHOENIX

    Adrien Bacchi is the founder and CEO of ChibiPhoenix, a Sofia-based game studio he has run since 2008, profitable and independent from day one. Over almost two decades, he has grown the company from a handful of people to a team of around 80, operating live free-to-play games for players worldwide and building its own technology, from game engines to payments and community platforms. He is now launching AMILOVA, a transmedia platform where stories begin as webcomics, the ones audiences love become games, and fans create alongside the studio. A lifelong manga and anime fan, Adrien focuses on one question: how to produce high-quality character-driven content at scale, with AI as the tool and artists at the core. French, based in Sofia.

    Title of Talk: Transmedia & AI: The Pipeline From Story to Game

    Talk Description: Stories now travel across webcomics, video, sound and games, and every format needs content at a pace traditional production can’t keep up with. AI changes the economics, but only if it sits inside a real pipeline with artists in control. Adrien shares what a studio running live games since 2008 has learned from building a hybrid AI and human production line: 2D, 3D, sound, video and written stories, connected into one system that turns characters and stories into playable content. What AI gives, what it takes, where artists remain irreplaceable, and how a small team can produce like a large one without losing quality.

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    Stoyan Stoyanov

    Elektrick Me

    Stoyan Stoyanov is a creative director and co-founder of ELEKTRICK.ME, a Sofia-based studio established in 2011 with Vladimir Grantcharov, working across Europe, the Gulf, China and the US. With a background in music, television and motion graphics, he tells stories with technology, turning façades, stages, monuments and immersive rooms into canvases and combining projection mapping, light, lasers, pyro and drones into a single composition on one timecode. He builds spaces and installations that sense the people inside them and keep evolving long after opening night. His work has been shown on the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, where it won the Grand Jury Prize at iMapp in 2025, as well as on St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia and at festivals in Tokyo, Dublin, Shanghai, New York and Pécs. In 2026 he created PORT▲L, a festival of interactive light art in Gabrovo, and his clients include Intel, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Saudi Telecom.

    Title of Panel: AI vs AI in Animation: Artificial vs Artistic

    Talk Description: Four studios, four corners of animation: League of Legends Cinematics, game trailers, 3D mapping on buildings, and animation for LEGO and National Geographic. Generative tools are entering each of these differently. On 16 October, the people doing the work will say what’s actually happening. 

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    Zakk Zahariev

    Big Bite Records

    Zakk Zahariev is the founder of Big Bite Records, an audio post-production studio in Sofia that has been creating music and sound for picture since 2020. The studio composes original scores, designs sound and mixes in stereo, 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos for games, trailers, film and animation. Clients include Ubisoft, Netflix, Kingsmen and the studio works with European production houses. Credits include the Rainbow Six trailer and the immersive installations at the Almaty Science Museum. Zakk is trained in audio engineering and composition, holds Dolby’s Atmos Certification. 

    Title of Talk: Immersive Audio Mixing for Picture

    Talk Description: How do music, sound design and dialogue end up in one Dolby Atmos mix for a streaming platform? Zakk walks through the workflow in two parts:

    01 · Mixing music for picture: letting the score serve the shot without losing itself.

    02 · Music meets sound design and dialogue: how the three layers share the space in a Dolby Atmos mix delivered to OTT specs.

     
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    Anja Lenhart

    ESC Vienna 2026

    Anja Lenhart is a senior producer and live broadcast specialist with extensive experience in international sports & live entertainment broadcasting, prime-time fiction, and other TV formats. Her professional background combines media operations with corporate communications, including coordinating production workflows for several Olympic Games and recently managing public affairs and stakeholder relations for the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna in 2026. In addition to event logistics and international delegation handling, Anja is a certified Green Producing Agent, specializing in implementing sustainability standards across television and media productions.

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    Petya Koleva

    Intercultura Consult

    Petya Koleva is founder and director of Intercultura Consult (2004), a creative agency specialised in research and innovation support for the arts and creative sector. Engaged with European policies in the field, a published author and independent expert to UNESCO, EU agencies, International organiations  such as NPDC, OntheMove, cultural foundations and more.

    Title of Talk: Digital creativity – intangible and unlimited 

    Talk Description: In the age when human agency could be overtaken, is digital creativity a growth or a sustainability factor in Southeast Europe? Use cases, critical theory and an offer in one package.

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    Viktor Ketipov

    Kipi Interactive

    Game Developer with strong Technical Background and 15+ Years of AAA and Indie experience. Founder of Kipi Interactive.

    Title of Panel: PC / Console 

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    Bisser Dyankov

    Haemimont Games

    Bisser is CEO of Haemimont Games, in this adventure since 2009.

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    Julian Mihov

    PWC Bulgaria

    Julian Mihov is a Director, leading the forensic services team of PwC Bulgaria and member of the PwC CEE Sport Business team. He has almost 30 years of experience  in regulatory, tax and compliance matters, including in the TMT and entertainment sectors. He successfully led projects focusing on regulatory compliance, ensuring clients adhered to international standards and regulations. Julian acquired substantial experience working on compliance-related projects in multinational environments, ensuring process accuracy and adherence to regulatory standards.

    Julian holds a master’s degree in law from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and has specialised in international business law and taxation in the Netherlands and the UK. He is a qualified Bulgarian lawyer.

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    Elena Kitanova

    Elena Kitanov Paris

     

    Title of Talk: When Heritage Becomes a Signature

    Talk Description: How can cultural heritage become a distinctive creative signature? Elena Kitanova shows how Bulgarian heritage and French luxury craftsmanship come together in leather goods with a unique artistic identity. In the age of AI, the talk also explores the relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Artistic Intelligence, and the enduring role of human creativity in the future of luxury.

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    Dr. Diana Andreeva - Popyordanova

    Observatory of Cultural Economics

    Dr. Diana Andreeva-Popyordanova is the director of the Observatory of Cultural Economics (OCE), an independent research organization in Bulgaria. She is co-editor of the Bulgarian profile in the Compendium of Cultural Policies. She is a lecturer at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) and the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, and director of the Centre for Media Research, Audiovisual Policy and Cultural Industries “Bilyana Tomova” at UNWE. She is part of the research team of the Horizon 2020 CICERONE project, a representative of Sofia, UNESCO Creative City of Film, a member of the European Experts Network for Culture since 2025, and a member of the Advisory Board of the FilmEU European University Alliance.

    Talk Description: Latest and most up-to-date data from the Observatory on the Economics of Culture regarding the economic contribution of the cultural and creative industries in Sofia and Bulgaria

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    Ahinora

    BG Content

    Ahinora is Bulgaria’s first AI influencer, a digitally generated personality created by the digital agency BG Content. Designed to inspire and engage audiences, she promotes reading, healthy living, Bulgarian culture, history and tourism. Ahinora represents a new approach to digital storytelling, exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to communicate meaningful messages, celebrate cultural heritage and connect with audiences in creative ways.

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    Giacomo Rozzo

    iL Prisma

    Giacomo Rozzo is Head of Innovation at Il Prisma, where he leads research-driven innovation projects at the intersection of strategy, technology and human experience. His work combines cultural research, regenerative approaches and community development with the exploration of how AI can transform the way people and teams work. He leads initiatives that pair bottom-up experimentation with a strategic approach to scaling emerging best practices, and is currently developing an AI-powered platform to advance regenerative practices in architecture and launching a company-wide programme to structure AI initiatives.

    Title of Talk: Beyond the Answers: In Search of New Meaning

    Talk Description: What does it mean to be artistic when AI can already simulate creativity and keeps raising the bar for project quality, yet constantly creating something new doesn’t necessarily mean innovating? Through real-world project examples, this talk explores whether what’s missing from the equation we are building with AI lies in the most deeply human aspects of our experience.

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    Mihail Dichev

    Leon Audio and AudioWizz

    Award-winning Sound Designer with 20 years of experience specializing in audio post and classical music production. He has accomplished a lot of local and international projects and has won the Golden Umbrella Award for Sound Design twice. Mihail heads up a highly talented and experienced team and together they make the best of sound.

    Title of Talk: The Boring Side of Dolby Atmos

    Talk Description: A behind-the-scenes look at the realities of Dolby Atmos production, featuring a real project from a major Bulgarian television series. Discover why the most overlooked aspects of immersive audio are often the most important.

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    John Murray

    Growthclusters UK

    John Murray is Director of Growthcluster. He first came to Sofia in 2001 after working on Creative Economy in London, Manchester, Birmingham and his native Lancashire. 

    Title of Talk: UNDER A SOFIA SKY – Creative Industries 2030+

    Talk Description: Will there be a push-back fom AI? What type of economy follows the Services Economy? Wet your curiosity and open your eyes to a different business opportunity.

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    Councillor Harry Doyle

    Liverpool City Council

    Councillor Harry Doyle is Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, leading a people-centred agenda focused on prevention, opportunity and civic pride. He led the successful bid for Eurovision 2023 and oversaw its delivery, and has driven forward HOME, a neighbourhood-rooted cultural programme that lets residents shape cultural life. He also serves as an Area Council Member for Arts Council England and represents Knotty Ash and Dovecot Park. A former teacher, he leads an educational charity that helps high-achieving young people in Liverpool access leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.

    Title of Talk: Liverpool 2023: From Hosting Eurovision to Building a Lasting Legacy

    Talk Description: Councillor Harry Doyle explores the impact and legacy of Liverpool hosting Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine. This talk outlines the approaches Liverpool took when delivering this major event, and the steps taken to engage the city’s population and leave a lasting legacy.

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    Miroslav Naskov

    Mind Design/ Dom World

    Miroslav is an architectural designer and visionary. Trained at the AA Design Research Lab (AADRL) and formerly with Zaha Hadid Architects and Populous, his work advances Crafted Intelligence, the convergence of craft, play, and AI.

    His projects span a 5-star heritage hotel interior, bespoke residences, and visionary research such as the LA28 Olympic Village (with Studio Tim Fu). His work has been featured in Forbes, Designboom, and on BTV National Television, has presented at AIA UK and exhibited at Venice Design Week, the Zaha Hadid Gallery (as part of AADRL), AADRL20 (Building Centre), and UniArt Sofia.

    Title of Talk: Designing What Matters: Human Judgment in the Age of AI

    Talk Description: 

    Design is faster than it has ever been. Tasks that once took days can now be completed in hours. AI is moving beyond image generation. It can model, analyse, iterate and execute tasks across the design process. It is becoming an operator. 

    But decision-making has not accelerated at the same pace. Decisions remain slow because understanding is still fragmented. And this raises the central question: as AI becomes more capable, what remains distinctly human? Deciding what matters. And accepting responsibility for the result.

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    Florent Point

    Tencent Cloud

    Florent brings 15+ years across cloud infrastructure, architecture and go-to-market, backed by an engineering degree and a Master’s in Information Systems Management. After 8 years at Microsoft (private cloud consulting, then sales/presales for the French partner ecosystem), he joined Tencent Cloud Europe 7+ years ago, where he builds cross-border partnerships and drives Go-To-China and Go-From-China strategies — from core cloud infrastructure to breakthrough solutions connecting businesses in and out of China.

    Title of Talk: AI Without the Token Bill: Tencent Cloud and 10Centric

    Talk Description: How Tencent Cloud offers tools and solutions to optimize AI usage with security and control

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    Mariyana Hamanova

    Cleantech Bulgaria / Moderator

    Mariyana Hamanova is the executive director of “Cleantech Bulgaria”. She has extensive experience in managing international projects in the field of sustainable development, circular economy and green innovation. She has earned credibility as a recognized professional in the process of developing and implementing sustainable business solutions and transformation strategies. Cleantech Bulgaria is a partner of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and EIT Climate KIC, EIT Culture and Creativity and EIT Urban Mobility and hub manager of EIT Manufacturing for Bulgaria.

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