We talked to Mirona Radu, founder of the pioneering mentorship programme Her Story, Her Future, about her personal journey and the motivation behind creating this empowering platform for women. The project was co-financed with the Administration of the National Cultural Fund, Romania.

Cineuropa: How did your journey in the film industry begin, and what inspired you to enter this world?
Mirona Radu: My path in the film industry started at the age of 19 when I joined a film distribution company, which was also in charge of one of the few art cinemas in Bucharest at the time. I was essentially invited to manage the company's film activities in Bucharest because the team was from a provincial town. Having previously organised film nights with my college peers — I was studying film directing at the time — I enjoyed both the organisational and promotional aspects of cinema. They had confidence in me from day one, entrusting me with tasks like submitting films to the National Film Center. However, my love for film was born in childhood, as I lived in a town in the province that happened to host a cinema right next to my school. I was fascinated by how people gathered in front of the cinema, discussing and eagerly examining the movie posters. Film was always very close to me. My aunt worked for a film production company and would occasionally bring film crews to our house. I loved the energy these crews brought. It wasn’t just a love for movies; it was a love for life — a characteristic that fully defines me.

Why did you decide to initiate the mentorship programme, and what was the main motivation behind this project?
I myself participated in a mentorship programme for women leaders in the cinema, organised by UNIC, which opened up new perspectives for me and significantly expanded my industry network. Beyond that, it boosted my self-confidence. I believe that many women in this industry lack self-assurance. It’s astonishing how creative and positive change can be achieved when we have more confidence in ourselves. I wanted to pay it forward and create a platform where we can build together.

The programme aims to encourage and support women in the film industry, covering topics such as script development, casting, locations, film promotion and distribution, as well as leadership and communication.

Who participated? How did they evolve?
The Her Story, Her Future mentorship program covered three months and included individual and group meetings. Seven participants from Romania were selected: Ana Vijdea, Andreea Udrea, Carina-Gabriela Dasoveanu, Denisse Conn-Tubacu, Letitia Popa, Simona Mantarlian and Victoria Ecaterina Moraru. They had four individual meetings and four group meetings with seven mentors from the film industry and other special guests (from Romania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Egypt, Brazil, and Germany) to develop their film projects, receive feedback, guidance, and enhance their personal skills. At the end of the program, we organised an online international pitch, where each participant presented their project, and a jury composed of three film professionals — Moldova’s Valentina Iusuphodjaev, Lithuania’s Goda Januskeviciute and Romania’s Gabriela Suciu — awarded ex-aequo a €1,000 prize for the best pitch to Carina Gabriela Dasoveanu and Denisse Conn-Tubacu. All seven projects were outstanding, and I am confident that we will hear more about them in other development programs and film festivals. 

Who were the mentors for this program?
In our inaugural edition, we had the privilege of working with seven outstanding and generous mentors with whom I had the privilege to collaborate on previous projects: Alina Grigore (renowned actress and director of San Sebastian Golden Shell winning film Blue Moon [+lee también:
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What were the biggest challenges in developing and launching the programme, and how did you overcome them?
I believe that when there is a lot of freedom, there is creativity, but there is also risk. So over the course of three months, we tried to let each pair find its pacing and the duration of meetings without pressure. However, because the programme has a relatively limited duration of three months, I felt the need to add a practical aspect, and I came up with the idea of the pitch to provide a tangible anchor. We tried to convey that the pitch was a bonus, and the journey we embarked on together was the most important resource of the project.

How do you see the programme’s evolution in the future? Do you have plans or new initiatives you would like to implement?
Considering the numerous positive responses from participants and the industry's need, we will go ahead, and we’ve already begun to outline a structure for the second edition.

What have been this programme’s most significant achievements?
When people start to believe in themselves and together in a world full of opportunities, I truly believe that it’s up to us to shape the story of our future. Through Her Story, Her Future, I believe we have laid the foundations for a strong community where every woman in the film industry can find inspiration, support, and resources to write her own extraordinary story. We are more than just a career; we are sources of creativity, courage, and change. Together, we are shaping a future where our dreams become a reality.