Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Chemnitz 2026

"I Matter" is a powerful work which takes us into the world of a young woman who must stand her ground against the labels and expectations imposed on her by those around her, with remarkable resilience and courage, yet not without being deeply affected by her experiences. The film avoids simplistic oppositions and hasty judgements. It is painful without ever becoming hopeless. It is not only a glimpse into the precarious reality of a young Roma woman, or the director’s cinematic exploration of her own experience of growing up in a care home. It also tells a universal story about the search for belonging, overcoming shame, and fighting for the right to shape one’s own life. And it creates an artistic space for the experiences of young people whose voices might otherwise be drowned out by the clamour of racism, classism and adultism.