Elvira Notari (Salerno, 1875-Cava de' Tirreni, 1946), Italy's earliest and most prolific female filmmaker, made over sixty feature films and about a hundred documentaries.
Born Elvira Coda, she was of modest social origins. She married Nicola Notari. Together they founded Dora Film. She directed the films, while he worked as a cameraman. Their son 'Gennariello' worked as an actor in many of the films.
The feature films were often based on Neopolitan forms of drama, such as the sceneggiata, and shot on the streets of Naples using non-professional actors. The Notari's realist touch has been linked to the later Neorealist movement.