Romanian filmmaker Alina Șerban is presenting her feature-length directorial debut, “I Matter,” at the Venice Film Festival in the Venice Spotlight section. The film is noted as the first feature from a female Roma director to screen at a major festival of this caliber.
Şerban’s path to this milestone has involved substantial personal achievement. Born into poverty in Bucharest, she was placed in a state-run orphanage early in life before becoming the first member of her family to complete high school. She subsequently attended Bucharest’s Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography, studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and earned a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Upon returning to Romania, she created and performed in an acclaimed one-woman show examining her own experiences with discrimination and triumph, followed by pioneering theatrical works that presented Roma perspectives through a feminist lens.
“I Matter” draws inspiration from Șerban’s lived experience and centers on a young Roma woman attending acting school who confronts homelessness and identity while studying to become an actress. The film is based on a 2021 short of the same name that previously circulated through film festivals. The feature stars newcomer Denisa Farcaș and is produced by microFILM, 2Pilots Filmproduction, Frakas Prods., and Lemming Film, with international sales through Pluto Film.
Şerban emphasized the collaborative nature of the production, noting that she worked closely with her cast—including 16 child performers—to explore themes of acceptance and belonging while allowing the actors to connect personally with the material. Nearly two dozen cast and crew members plan to attend the premiere, and Roma band Mahala Rai Banda is scheduled to perform at the red-carpet event.
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