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 portrait of an artist who continues to inspire new creative pathways.

+ a special Q&A session with the Director Valerio Ciriaci and Producer Antonella Di Nocera

In Italian with English subtitles.

In partnership with:

Showtimes:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026: 7:00

Ticket Prices: $25 General Admission / $21 SDIFF Members / $16 Students & Military