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International Residency in Artificial Intelligence for Emerging Female Creators



THE FUTURE IS HUMAN. AI IS THE MEDIUM. RIO IS THE BRIDGE.

THE MANIFESTO

AIR Rio was born to be the bridge between talent from the Global South and the forefront of Artificial Intelligence — driving a future of storytelling that is HUMAN, DIVERSE, and POWERFUL.
Our first edition opens the Brazil-India corridor — where two of the world’s most expressive cultures come together to reimagine storytelling in the age of AI.
WHAT IS AIR RIO
A 45-day residency that transforms emerging creators into architects of the AI era.
AIR Rio is an international immersive program based in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together 5 Brazilian creators and 5 Indian creators for an intensive experience at the intersection of generative AI, storytelling, and cultural exchange.
This is not a course. This is not a festival. This is a permanent platform — built to last, scale, and open markets for creators from the Global South.
WHY BRAZIL AND INDIA — NOW
In February 2026, during the largest Brazilian business delegation ever held in India, co-founders Nagîla Guimarães and Rashmi Lamba led strategic meetings in Mumbai and New Delhi — consolidating partnerships with Indian leaders in training, distribution, and creative production. Nagîla represented AIR Rio at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, serving as the only Latin American voice on the panel about women’s entrepreneurship in AI.
AIR Rio was born from this encounter. The Brazil-India corridor is no longer an idea — it is a reality in the making.
Edition 1: Brazil + India — Rio de Janeiro
Edition 2+: Expanding through the Global South
THE INFRASTRUCTURE
THE LARGEST DIGITAL INCLUSION NETWORK IN LATIN AMERICA
The 32 Naves do Conhecimento are the beating heart of Rio de Janeiro — public technology hubs strategically distributed across the city’s communities, managed directly by the Rio City Hall and aligned with Rio’s vision as an AI City.
For AIR Rio, they are not just infrastructure. They are living proof that digital sovereignty can — and must — reach every corner of the city.
  • 32 units equipped with high-speed connectivity, digital labs, and creative studios.
  • Innovation incubators at the heart of Rio’s creative AI agenda.
  • Direct connection between AIR Rio and thousands of emerging creators from Rio’s communities.
THE FORMAT: 10 | 45 | RIO
An intensive 45-day immersion in Rio de Janeiro for 10 emerging creators (5 Brazilian and 5 Indian)
01
The Experience
Professional acceleration and collective living at CAPACETE — Latin America's most established international artist residency. A space where Brazilian and Indian creators build together across borders and disciplines.
02
The Laboratory
A cutting-edge creative studio where participants learn, experiment, and co-create with Generative AI tools to develop original verticals, blending advanced technology with the unique cultural pulse of Rio de Janeiro and India.
03
The Result
The residency will culminate in the production of 10 high-impact works, developed as independent short films or episodes of a series. This versatile format ensures that each creator fully masters the AI medium. More than training, AIR Rio opens real access to the market: each project is born connected to the Brazil-India creative ecosystem, with potential for international distribution via Pocket Films, Asia's largest short-film platform, with 2B+ views.
IMPACT AND LEGACY
Empowering Future Leaders
Emerging creators become industry innovators — prepared to lead and redefine the AI-driven creative economy in their countries and communities.
Knowledge Leadership
The Global South moves from consuming technology created by others to mastering the tools that shape who gets to tell the stories of the future.
Global Connectivity
Edition after edition, AIR Rio builds a growing network of co-production, exchange, and technological sovereignty among Global South nations.
A Scalable Model
A documented model — designed to be replicated among Global South nations — ensuring this is not a one-time event, but the beginning of a movement.
THE ALLIANCE
AIR RIO brings together two complementary institutional forces:
A nonprofit organization dedicated to leadership, advocacy, and professional development — promoting gender equity and the representation of women in the creative industries.
Latin America's most established artistic residency ecosystem, with nearly 30 years of experience in contemporary art, research, and international production.
Together, they are the foundation of AIR Rio — uniting advocacy, infrastructure, and decades of creative leadership in service of a shared vision.
LEADERSHIP
Nagîla Guimarães
Global Strategic Director and Co-Founder
Founder of WIFT-Brasil and director of Instituto +Mulheres, Nagîla has lived and worked in eight countries. She operates at the intersection of finance, creative industries, and gender equity. In February 2026, she was the only Latin American voice on the panel "From Implementers to Innovators: Women Entrepreneurship in AI" at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
Helmut Batista
Creative Director and Co-Founder
Founder of CAPACETE, Latin America's most established international artist residency, with nearly 30 years of activity in Rio de Janeiro. Responsible for AIR Rio's curatorial vision and operational execution, bringing decades of experience hosting international artists and researchers.

Rashmi Lamba
Regional Director (India) and Co-Founder
Media professional with more than 40 years in film, TV, and international co-productions. Director of the FICCI FLO festival (a UN Women partner) and president of the India Council of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. AIR Rio's main bridge to India's creative and institutional ecosystem.

Chadi Zeneddine
Regional Director (MENA, Africa, and Europe) and Co-Founder
Filmmaker and creative consultant with more than 20 years of experience across MENA, Europe, and Latin America. Collaborates with Red Sea Souk and Vox Studios, bringing market intelligence and access to international distribution and co-production networks.

Janaina Augustin
AI and Technology Innovation Consultant
Former Creative Product Manager at Netflix Latam and Head of Innovation at O2 Filmes, with more than 25 years of experience. Generative AI specialist, aligning AIR Rio's curriculum with the latest technological and market trends.
JOIN AIR RIO
Sponsors and investors: Associate your brand with the first Brazil-India creative corridor in AI and the future of the Global South.
Institutions and cultural organizations: Align your network with a permanent platform for South-South cooperation and digital sovereignty.
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