Actor Kevin Costner will participate September 17 - 18 in the second edition of Impact Bucharest, an event that brings together business, politics, technology and cultural leaders from all over Europe, a release informs on Wednesday.

The event's agenda includes topical themes such as cybersecurity, green transition, digital transformation, the future of cities, health, digital trade and leadership in times of transformation.

Over 2,000 participants are expected to attend, as well as representatives of public administration, impactful startups and large international companies.

Kevin Costner's story is proof that success comes when one is ready to take risks, thinks on the long-term and stays true to one's dreams. In college, he was studying finance, playing baseball and dreaming to become an actor. A chance encounter on a plane with the legendary Richard Burton led him to ask: 'Do you think I have a chance to make it in Hollywood?' Burton replied: 'I believe you do,' the organizers of the event said.

Apart from acting, Costner is a visionary entrepreneur who has invested in green technologies, real estate, digital tourism (with the HearHere app), and even put his money and house on the line for his most personal project: the western 'Horizon: An American Saga', the first part of which premiered at Cannes in 2024.

Costner speaks openly about risks, choices, failures and successes. Whether as an artist or a businessman, he knows how to build a genuine connection with the audience, and the participants in Impact Bucharest Presented by Mastercard will get to experience this firsthand, the release states.

Organized in Poland since 2016, Impact events are now in their second edition in Bucharest.

'Forecasts suggest that by 2035, Romania's GDP per capita could reach the EU average. One of Impact's missions is to speed up this process. We believe it's possible - especially with the right kind of collaboration. We are proud to see Impact expanding to this part of Europe. Our events bring together leaders from business, technology and politics, along with representatives of major corporations, startups, and investors. In this way, we support Polish companies already active in the Romanian market and those seeking to start new partnerships in the region,' said Krystian Wolak, founder of Impact. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)