Groundbreaking Roma Director Alina Șerban on ‘Pain,’ ‘Joy,’ of Historic, Venice-Bound ‘I Matter’: ‘I Managed to Do Something Impossible’
What's happening
Romanian filmmaker Alina Șerban is premiering her feature directorial debut, 'I Matter,' at the Venice Film Festival this week in the Venice Spotlight section. The film marks a major milestone for the Roma director, who has overcome significant barriers to reach this moment on one of cinema's most prestigious stages.
Who's involved
Alina Șerban is a Romanian actress and filmmaker who studied at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and has been honored as a Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit in Romania. The Venice Film Festival, held annually in Venice, is the world's oldest film festival and ranks among the 'Big Five' international festivals alongside the European festivals and Toronto and Sundance.
Why it matters
Șerban's directorial debut represents a breakthrough moment for underrepresented voices in global cinema, particularly Roma filmmakers working at the highest institutional levels. Her presence at Venice—the world's oldest and most prestigious film festival—signals broader recognition of diverse storytelling and may open pathways for other filmmakers from marginalized communities.
The story
Alina Șerban has arrived at the Venice Film Festival this week with her feature directorial debut, 'I Matter,' making its world premiere in the Venice Spotlight section. The achievement carries particular weight given Șerban's journey from an impoverished background to this moment on one of cinema's most storied red carpets.
Şerban's path to filmmaking has already defied conventional trajectories. A trained actress with credits including 'Alone at My Wedding' (2018) and 'Housekeeping for Beginners' (2023), she pursued rigorous dramatic training at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her contributions to culture have earned her recognition as a Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit in Romania, a distinction that underscores her significance within her home country's artistic landscape.
'I Matter' represents her transition from acting to directing—a shift that, according to Variety, involved what Șerban describes as accomplishing 'something impossible.' The film's selection for the Venice Spotlight section, a dedicated platform for bold new directorial voices, places her work within a festival that has historically championed emerging talent. The Venice Film Festival, held annually in Venice, stands as the world's oldest film festival and ranks among the 'Big Five' international festivals worldwide, a status it has held since receiving formal FIAPF accreditation in 1951.
The resonance of 'I Matter' as a title extends beyond its simplicity. For a filmmaker whose early life was marked by economic hardship and who belongs to the Roma community—a group historically underrepresented in global cinema leadership—the assertion carries autobiographical weight. Șerban's breakthrough challenges structural barriers that have long limited Roma representation both behind and in front of cameras at major festivals.
Her Venice premiere positions 'I Matter' within a context of international recognition at a moment when questions of authorship and representation in cinema continue to evolve. The film's reception at Venice may influence its prospects for wider distribution and future opportunities, both for Șerban and for the conversations her work invites about whose stories reach global audiences and whose voices shape how those stories are told.