Maria Plyta: Present. Greece’s first woman director – POP-UP exhibiton

“Cinderellas are dead, Alexis. I rely on my own hands.” This line, spoken by Yanna in Uphill (1964), written and directed by Maria Plyta (1915–2006), shows how far ahead of her time Greece’s first woman director was. Plyta directed 17 feature films between 1950 and 1970, yet despite the success of most of them, her name has remained outside collective memory and academic research. Drawing on material from the research programme “Plyta’s Unknown Cinema” (H.F.R.I.), the exhibition exposes the gender bias of film historiography, bringing to light Plyta’s personal belongings, her novels, contemporary reviews and newly discovered biographical details. The exhibition is an act of gendered historical restoration, placing Plyta and her work firmly within Greek film heritage. Curated: Betty Kaklamanidou, Film professor, AUTH.