ELVIRA NOTARI: BEYOND SILENCE
Elvira Notari. Oltre il silenzio
2025 | 90’/52’ | Italy-USA
"Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence" is a feature documentary chronicling the life and work of Elvira Notari (1875-1946), Italy's first woman film director. Despite directing hundreds of silent films that captivated from Naples to New York, Elvira was relegated to the margins of film history for half a century. Her films, poised between realism and staged drama, were deeply rooted in Neapolitan folklore. A woman in a man’s world, her works were targeted by Fascist censorship yet found the embrace of audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. The documentary interweaves voices of those who celebrate her legacy today – from the experts who rediscovered her films to contemporary artists reimagining her vision through new works – to resurrect Elvira’s singular vision. More than a biography, "Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence" is a prismatic portrait of an artist who continues to inspire new creative pathways.
A Parallelo 41 Produzioni and Awen Films co-production with Cinecittà. With support from the Italian Ministry of Culture, Film Commission Regione Campania, City of Naples, in collaboration with Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at NYU and Archivio Audiovisivo del movimento operaio e democratico.
A Parallelo 41 Produzioni and Awen Films co-production with Cinecittà. With support from the Italian Ministry of Culture, Film Commission Regione Campania, City of Naples, in collaboration with Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at NYU and Archivio Audiovisivo del movimento operaio e democratico.
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FESTIVALS & AWARDS
82nd Venice International Film Festival (World Premiere)
> Official Selection - Venice Classics
David di Donatello 2026
> Shortlisted – Best Documentary
Nastri d’Argento 2026
> Finalist – Documentary on Cinema, Performing Arts & Culture
Porto Femme - International Film Festival
> Best Film, XX Element Competition
Festival dei Circoli di Cinema 2025
> Best Documentary about Cinema
Chiayi International Art Doc Film festival (International Premiere)
> Official Selection
Jeonju International Film Festival
> Official Selection
Beijing International Film Festival
> Official Selection
Festival del Cinema Europeo
> Official Selection
Matera Film Festival
> Official Selection
Festival Visioni Verticali
> Official Selection
Festival di Cinema e Donne
> Opening Night Documentary
Primo Piano sull'Autore - Festival Pianeta Donna
> Official Selection
PITCHED AT
Visioni dal Mondo - Visioni Incontra
San Sebastian Lau Haizetara - Documentary Co-production Forum
Bio to B - Pitching Forum