On 23 October, Dr Silvia Dibeltulo (EHL) and Professor Daniela Treveri Gennari (School of Arts) marked the culmination of their research project, Women in Italian Film Production: Industrial Histories and Gendered Labour, with a public event in Rome entitled Protagonists: Women, Cinema and Work. Held at the Casa Internazionale delle Donne (International Women’s House), a historic centre for feminism, women’s rights and social justice, the event brought together project participants, students, film industry professionals, stakeholders and members of the public.
Organised in partnership with the female-led audiovisual production company Freak Factory, and in collaboration with Women in Film, Television and Media Italia and Vanvera (an Italian non-profit cultural collective of women working in the arts, social sector and research, with a focus on gender studies, transfeminism, and the political and social dimensions of human relationships), the event showcased the project’s findings and created a space for dialogue between researchers, industry professionals and the wider public.
Led by Silvia Dibeltulo and Daniela Treveri Gennari as co-investigators, the AHRC-funded project, worth almost £1 million, ran from 2023 to 2026 in collaboration with the University of Warwick and international partner Cineteca di Bologna. Investigating women’s roles in Italian cinema from the post-war period to the present, the research draws on institutional archives, private collections and oral histories to bring long-overlooked forms of women’s labour to light. In doing so, it contributes to wider debates on inclusion and historical justice, ensuring that women’s contributions are recognised as an integral part of cinema history and society at large.
The event featured a presentation of the project’s findings, a panel discussion bringing together female film professionals from different generations, and a talking circle involving all attendees. The invited speakers brought extensive experience and recognised achievements in Italian and international cinema, having received multiple awards, including the prestigious David di Donatello, Italy’s equivalent of the Oscars, and contributed to acclaimed films such as The Name of the Rose, Once Upon a Time in America, The Last Emperor and The Son’s Room, as well as the internationally renowned television series Gomorrah. Their participation provided a valuable opportunity to draw on professional experience across generations and discuss gender-based inequalities in the audiovisual sector, exploring both grassroots and institutional approaches to challenging discriminatory practices and fostering more inclusive working environments.
The event demonstrates how Silvia and Daniela’s research has extended beyond academia to engage directly with industry professionals and the public, creating opportunities to connect historical research with contemporary workplace challenges. Media coverage in Italian newspaper Il Messaggero and news agency AGI, alongside coverage through the newsletters of partner organisations, further extended the project’s reach and visibility.
Through this ambitious, collaborative research project, Silvia Dibeltulo and Daniela Treveri Gennari have helped bring women’s experiences and contributions in Italian cinema into sharper focus, while creating opportunities for research to inform public discussion and contribute to change within the audiovisual sector.
For further information on the project please email Silvia (sdibelulo@brookes.ac.uk) and Daniela (dtreveri-gennari@brookes.ac.uk)