The exhibition “inVisibili. Le pioniere del cinema” (inVisibles. The Women Who Pioneered Cinema), conceived by Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni and organized and produced by Archivio Luce Cinecittà, celebrates the women who made a fundamental contribution to the birth and development of Italian cinema, recognizing their pioneering role both in front of and behind the camera.
The exhibition, which opened on Thursday, November 13, at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, with a press conference hosted by the Institute itself, was moderated by the Institute’s Director, Claudio Pagliara, with the participation of the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, Lucia Borgonzoni, and the President of Cinecittà, Antonio Saccone.
Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Culture, said: “Women of charisma and talent, with great entrepreneurial spirit and a vision of cinema projected into the future, extraordinarily modern. Whether they moved in front of or behind the camera, whether they were directors or voice actresses, whether they were involved in editing or production, the women at the origins of the history of the seventh art have marked its course. Yet too little has always been known about them. At least, until this exhibition. We are proud that the extensive research carried out to bring to light stories and profiles that have remained in the shadows for too long, thanks to the collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, can now be shared with the American public.
Since the dawn of cinema, women have played a central role in defining the language of film: not only as actresses, but also as screenwriters, producers, directors, editors, and entrepreneurs. In the early decades of the 20th century—in Italy, France, and especially in the United States—the film industry saw a significant and creatively decisive female presence.
Suffice it to say that, in the United States, between the late 19th century and the mid-1920s, female screenwriters outnumbered their male colleagues by a ratio of ten to one, a fact long ignored by traditional historical narratives. Although the audiovisual sector became largely male-dominated in the following decades, the women of early cinema demonstrated skill and vision in roles that had previously been considered exclusively male. Thanks to the recovery of scattered materials — films, sometimes only fragments, screenplays, period magazines, archival documents, and family testimonies — these figures are now reemerging, bringing to light a history that had remained partially buried.
Rediscovering these contributions means restoring dignity and visibility to the women who helped shape the seventh art, and offering a more complete and truthful narrative of its evolution.
“I would like to thank Undersecretary Borgonzoni for his insight and for giving a voice to those women who made their contribution in conditions of great hardship. Unfortunately, we are still unable to eradicate this hardship completely, but initiatives such as these help to raise awareness of a crucial issue,” said Antonio Saccone, President of Cinecittà.
The Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Claudio Pagliara, said: “I am delighted to bring to the attention of the New York public the pivotal role that Italian women entrepreneurs have played since the dawn of the film industry in our country. Their stories, masterfully described in the exhibition conceived by Undersecretary Lucia Borgonzoni, whom I thank, contribute to reinforcing the image of Italy as a pioneer in women’s march toward conquering their rightful place in society.”
The exhibition, which spans from the early 1900s to the early 1940s, presents seventeen pioneers in chronological order: from the work and impact of director Elvira Notari — whose 150th birthday anniversary falls this year — to the figure of voice actress Rosetta Calavetta.
These women were not simply protagonists on screen: they founded production companies, created innovative works, and developed cinematic and narrative languages capable of challenging conventions, anticipating social issues, and representing emancipated and modern female role models.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday, November 14, 2025, until January 30, 2026.
From November 14 to January 30, the exhibition will be open at the following times:
Monday-Friday: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
