The Venice Film Festival is set to premiere I Matter, a new drama that places a young Roma woman at the center of a story about identity, ambition, and the inescapable pull of one’s roots. The film, directed by Alina Șerban, is slated for release on September 8, 2026, and arrives with an exclusive clip that offers a glimpse into its emotional core. The movie follows Rebeca, a Roma girl on the cusp of aging out of the orphanage that has been her home, as she grapples with a fragile dream: that her father’s release from prison will finally deliver the family she has never truly had.
Rebeca’s life takes a promising turn when she is accepted into a university program to study acting. For the first time, her future seems bright, her talents recognized. But the opportunity to step into a new world does not erase the one she comes from. As she begins to carve out a place for herself among her peers, the realities of her background start to close in, demanding attention and forcing decisions that can no longer be postponed. The narrative hinges on this collision - between the hope of a fresh start and the weight of a history that refuses to stay in the background.
A Story Rooted in Personal Experience
Director Alina Șerban has crafted a film that feels intimately connected to the material, and the casting reflects a commitment to authenticity. The ensemble includes Denisa Farcaș in the lead role, supported by Sorin Mihai, Angelina Pavel, Vanessa Dancea, Raisa Mihai, Alexandru Stancu, Alina Berzunțeanu, and Natalia Călin. The film runs 116 minutes, giving the story room to breathe as it explores the tension between Rebeca’s personal ambitions and her cultural obligations. The exclusive Venice clip, which is generating early buzz, is expected to highlight the internal struggle Rbeca faces as she stands at this crossroads.
Thematically, I Matter appears to be less about a simple choice between worlds and more about the impossibility of keeping them apart. Rebeca’s desire to become an actress is not presented as a rejection of her heritage, but her entry into that world forces her to confront how others perceive her background - and how she perceives it herself. The film’s title carries a weight that becomes clearer through this lens: it is a declaration of worth, made in the face of systemic neglect and personal uncertainty.
Venice as a Launching Pad
Debuting at Venice places I Matter among a slate of works that often foreground socially conscious storytelling. The festival has a history of embracing films that tackle identity, marginalization, and the complexities of modern European life, and this project fits squarely within that tradition. For Șerban, who has roots in Romanian theater and film, this marks a significant moment in her career. Her direction seems to prioritize a grounded, observational style that lets the performances carry the emotional thrust, rather than relying on melodrama.
The early response to the clip suggests the film will resonate not just with festival audiences but also with broader viewers who recognize the universal tension between where we come from and where we hope to go. It is a story about agency - about a young woman who has had little control over her circumstances finally reaching a point where her choices matter. The fact that those choices come with real consequences only deepens the stakes.
For now, I Matter arrives with modest expectations and no early critical rating, but its subject matter and pedigree suggest it could become a talking point of this year’s festival circuit. The film’s September 8 premiere will be closely watched, and the spotlight from Venice could provide the platform needed for a story that might otherwise struggle for attention in a crowded market. Whether it builds momentum toward awards season remains uncertain, but for those who see Rebeca’s journey as a mirror of broader social questions, I Matter is already a film worth tracking.
As the release draws near, the focus will shift to how audiences receive a narrative that refuses to offer easy answers. Rebeca’s story is not one of simple triumph or defeat; it is a portrait of a young woman navigating the messy, often contradictory demands of belonging and self-discovery. That tension, more than any plot twist, is what gives I Matter its resonance. With its Venice debut imminent, the film now has the chance to make its case before the world.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
