Roma filmmakers showcase new narratives at Seville European film festival

Roma filmmakers from across Europe gathered at the Seville European film festival to present a showcase of seven films designed to counter long standing stereotypes.

The program, titled Raising Romani Gaze, aims to give narrative sovereignty to the Roma community, which includes an estimated 10 to 12 million people living across Europe. The curators and creators say the project is the result of 10 years of work to move away from passive roles defined by outsiders.

Alina Șerban, a Romany actor and filmmaker from Romania, included her film I Matter in the collection. The film follows a young woman navigating her Romany identity and previously won an audience award at the Venice film festival. Șerban stated that she wants to claim Roma humanity by showing complex human experiences rather than the villains or exotic characters often seen in mainstream media.

The selection features diverse works, including a documentary by Katalin Bársony about a man deported from Germany to Kosovo and a film by Jero de los Santos exploring queer and Romany perspectives. It also features Smooth the Edges by Charles Newland, which explores the dilemma of hiding one's Romany background to avoid workplace discrimination in Britain. These filmmakers aim to use art to challenge prejudice and provide a space where the community can see themselves reflected on screen.