Reclaiming a Pioneer of Italian Cinema

Federico Pacchioni moderated the Q&A following a screening of a documentary on Elvira Notari, widely regarded as Italy’s first woman film director, in conversation with producer Antonella Di Nocera, director Valerio Ciriaci, and Dr. Emily Carman. The film highlights Notari’s pioneering role in Neapolitan silent cinema, her remarkable success with audiences in Italy and the United States, and the long process of recovering her legacy after decades of neglect. By bringing renewed attention to an overlooked figure in film history, the documentary offers an important reflection on cultural memory, women’s contributions to cinema, and the value of historical rediscovery.