Romanian actor Alina Șerban will make her feature-directing debut with I Matter (Eu Contez), which premieres at the Venice International Film Festival on 8 September. The film follows a young Roma woman navigating identity, family and ambition, and is significant because it is described as the first film by a Roma woman selected for an A-list festival.

Drawing on Șerban’s experiences of poverty, discrimination, eviction and time in a children’s home, the story centres on Rebeca as she prepares to leave an orphanage and hopes her imprisoned father’s release will bring the family life she wants. After winning a university place to study acting, Rebeca’s past begins to intrude on her new life, forcing her to confront difficult choices; Denisa Farcaș leads the cast, while Pluto Film handles sales.