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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 60-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
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:
A 60-day bilateral production lab — bridging virtual collaboration and a 30-day residency in Rio de Janeiro — uniting creators from Brazil and India to co-author original, AI-driven vertical cinema.
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
Anchored at the Nave do Conhecimento, where participants master, test, and direct generative AI tools. A cutting-edge technological infrastructure designed to build original vertical productions, merging 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 series episodes. Moving beyond traditional training, AIR Rio delivers a definitive market pipeline: each project emerges from the Brazil-India creative corridor ready for global distribution via major international and Asian vertical-content networks.
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 women's leadership, advocacy, and professional development — promoting gender equity and female representation in audiovisual and the creative industries.
Latin America's most established international artistic residency, with nearly 30 years of experience in contemporary art, research, and production — a global reference for hosting artists and innovative projects.
Together, they are the foundation of AIR Rio — uniting advocacy, infrastructure, and decades of creative leadership in service of a shared vision.
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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