Alina Șerban is an award-winning film and theater director, actress, and writer, and the first Roma woman to receive one of the highest distinctions offered by the Romanian state – the Order of Cultural Excellence – for her artistic contribution and her commitment to representing Roma identity and combating racism and xenophobia.

Despite enduring poverty and persistent discrimination, Șerban became the first in her family to graduate high school. She later pursued degrees at the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest, Tisch School of the Arts in New York, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Șerban has played a pivotal role in normalizing Roma history and narratives within mainstream cultural spaces, where such representation was previously absent. She is a pioneer of the Roma theater movement in Romania and the founder of the Untold Stories Artistic Company, which uses artistic tools to fight against discrimination.

Șerban’s work spans exhibitions, films, publications, and theater productions, actively challenging dehumanizing stereotypes and enriching perceptions of Roma cultural heritage. Internationally, she has brought authentic Roma women’s stories to public awareness through films such as “Housekeeping for Beginners” (Venice), “Alone at My Wedding” (Cannes), “Gipsy Queen” and “Written/Unwritten” (The European Film Awards), receiving critical acclaim and shifting societal perceptions.

Films and theater productions like “The Great Shame”, “Letter of Forgiveness” and “My Existence is Resistance” have been showcased in venues such as the United Nations in New York, serving as educational resources and cultural milestones.

Currently, Șerban is working on her first feature film, which won first place at the National Center of Cinematography Romania Competition. This milestone makes her one of the first Roma women to direct a feature film.