One of the ERA Scholarship 2025 recipients, supported by Invizibilii.ro and headed to Cannes Lions, Vlad Sima is a creative defined by joy against all odds, resilience, and an unstoppable drive to operate beyond the limits of social conditioning.

Though he began his academic journey in veterinary school — yes, really — it was the camera lens and the rhythm of visual storytelling that truly gripped him. Guided by curiosity and an eye for detail, Vlad blends instinct with experimentation. From childhood hobbies like origami and painting to cinematic projects, everything he creates reflects sensitivity.

What follows is more than a creative’s story — it’s a look inside a mind where inspiration meets discipline, and every frame carries purpose, energy, and heart.

1. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

I have always been happy regardless of obstacles, I am a person with a positive vibe, after all. But the satisfaction I get from my creative passions makes me feel whole. Every step has made me feel amazing, every process, every thought, every opinion, and especially seeing how this entire creative amalgam has transformed into a unique interpretation that I am proud and excited to share with everyone.

2. A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY

I have always had an artistic vision, and it has been noticeable since childhood. My relatives often pointed out that my second nature was combining colors and excelling in various artistic activities such as origami, quilling, drawing, and painting. My artistic passion was evident even back then, and every time I practiced, I felt a spark of joy.

As I grew older, I became increasingly drawn to photography, a curiosity that has flourished from high school to the present, where it has become a passion filled with love.

3. BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS

The internet. Through it, I learned how to properly use a camera and explored various compositions created by mostly young photographers with impressive determination. For a while, I used the Gurushots app as a reference while also competing with some of my own photos.

I discovered opportunities such as photography courses organized by my university and #The AlternativeSchool modules, which changed my perspective on the future I envision for myself.

4. THE PROJECT YOU LOVED THE MOST

I worked with a photographer for quite some time, and I really enjoyed a project we did together. We created a cinematic film, which was quite a challenge because I had to achieve a professional standard, while also learning editing and color grading through a trial-and-error approach.

Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I am happy and grateful for this opportunity.

5. THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED THE MOST

It would definitely be the ERA project, empowered by invizibilii.ro. Many of my friends didn’t expect me to create such a deep story in such a short time and with so many limitations.

I also made sure to gather as much feedback as possible, and to my surprise, it went very well. I received a lot of support, encouragement, and determination to keep fighting for my passions.

6. THE BEST THING ABOUT LOCAL CREATIVITY IS

Definitely, the originality of the people in that community. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a great source of inspiration for creating something new, but of course, you also need a little bit of “trust the process.”

Recently, I traveled to Spain, and in a small town at the foot of a mountain, I discovered a local tradition: every house entrance must have a painting embedded in the wall with Saint Catalina, that symbolizes her protection, watching over and praying for the residents.

For me, it was something truly special. I loved every moment of it, from the diverse art styles to how beautiful each entrance looked with a touch of joy and hope. It also inspired me to experiment with new compositions, and I really enjoyed creating them in black and white as well.

7. BEST STATEMENT OF LOCAL HUMOR

Currently, I am a volunteer at a youth association, and my role is to come up with creative and engaging ideas to voice youth thoughts in a fun and meaningful way. Right now we found a way through memes that not only help combat misinformation, but also serve as a source of entertainment for local youth.

Through humor, we don’t only reflect local realities in an accessible and engaging way but also encourage and expand the culture of local humor.

8. ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS RELATED TO LOCAL CREATIVES

I think a great piece of advice would be to really take the time to explore the area. Get to know the people, their customs, and what makes them unique. Try seeing things from their perspective as well.

Connecting with the community isn’t just helpful; it makes the whole experience more meaningful. You get to understand their needs, their stories, and what they have to offer. And for sure, there are people out there just waiting for the right chance to jump into new creative projects.

9. BEST PLACE IN BUCHAREST

The Japanese Garden in Herăstrău Park. I have always loved visiting during that time of the year when all the trees are in bloom. A lot of people come to admire nature’s creativity or to relax through various hobbies.

I once had the chance to observe someone inspired by the garden, painting the moment on canvas, a truly powerful creative scene. Every shade of pink in this landscape fills my soul with a special kind of joy. Being there makes me so happy that I feel the need to capture every moment and every detail through countless photos, good or bad, it doesn’t matter because I simply feel amazing.

10. BEST PLACE IN ROMANIA

In contrast to the landscape offered by the Japanese Garden, the best place in Romania has to be the Carpathians. My favorite sport is hiking, and through this, I have managed to explore a good portion of the mountain trails.

Besides the amazing views that you can see from up above, the mountains offer an unimaginable calmness for the spirit. Usually, when I’m up there, I feel like I forget every obstacle and let my mind flow, communicating more with my inner self. It literally makes me see all the beautiful scenery from a new perspective.

11. MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT ROMANIA, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD

One of the most disturbing facts about our country’s people is discrimination. There are unfounded stereotypes, based on absurd generalizations, that influence the general perception of young Romanians abroad, which in turn leads to difficulties in their integration.

But maybe, if there’s even a little bit of trust in them, it could make a difference for the better.

12. ROMANIA SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR

We have everything you could possibly think of, like one of the biggest diversities of landforms, sea openings, lakes, and rivers. We also possess a lot of resources that we can exploit and use for our needs, but the most important thing our country is known for are the smart, creative, and hard-working people who have existed and continue to exist, such as George Enescu, Constantin Brâncuși and my favorite young talent Christian Tudose.

13. YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY

First of all, I think spirituality shouldn’t be related to religion. I see spirituality more as a bond with oneself, a way to have a good relationship with yourself. It’s about learning how to love yourself and others, how to accept things in your life as they are, how to be calm, and how to enjoy life. This is the true meaning of happiness.

14. YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY

Money shouldn’t mean happiness; I mean, it’s a way to unlock certain aspects that can make you happy, but usually, it’s short-term happiness. We need to focus on other things in life, like connections with people, ourselves, and experiences, rather than the false saying that “money will make you happy, eventually.” Only we are responsible for our own happiness.

15. AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE 

A powerful yet simple inspirational film for me was “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.” It’s a simple yet beautifully painted animation, but it holds the deepest meaning I’ve ever seen with just a few words. It amazes me how much you can empathize with certain characters or lines.

I think every time I watched this film, I ended up crying because I could empathize with some of the lines, and it made me realize that you don’t need to create something complex in order to make people resonate with your creation.

16. A LOCAL BASED FEMALE TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE PROMOTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AS EXPONENT OF LOCAL CREATIVE SPIRIT

Actually, there is a female talent who truly embodies the local creative spirit in her work, and her stage name is Romania Chan. It’s truly remarkable how she combines Romanian traditions with anime culture in a funny yet accurate way. All her work is really relatable to most young communities, and her art style is not only pleasing but also full of meme references.

BIO:

Hi! I’m Vlad-Marian Sima, and I'm 22 years old. I live in Romania, near Bucharest, with my mother, my dog, and my cat. My older brother, who is 30, also lives in Bucharest.

I have a deep curiosity for animals, though the medical side of things doesn’t interest me as much. I'm passionate about technology, fascinated by how mechanical systems work in complex ways, I love computers, adventure video games, arts and crafts, and animated series.

Currently, I’m a student at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest. However, over time, I’ve realized that the medical field isn’t for me. My true passion lies in photography and filmmaking, and I am determined to pursue a creative career in the arts.