Figlie di Partenope
Figlie di Partenope is a poetic short documentary set in Naples, a city where contrasts define everyday life and where ancient traditions coexist with modern realities. At its center stands the figure of the Femminiello, a culturally unique identity rooted in centuries- old Neapolitan tradition. Embodying a fluid expression of gender that has historically been respected, even revered.
Through intimate observations and symbolic imagery, the film follows individuals who navigate their identities between past and present, sacred and profane, acceptance and exclusion. Their personal stories unfold alongside rituals such as the pilgrimage to Montevergine, where the Femminielli celebrate the Madonna in a deeply spiritual act of belonging.
Blending documentary elements with staged, poetic visuals, the film creates a sensory portrait of identity, resilience, and cultural memory. It reflects on a paradox: while contemporary political climates in Italy grow increasingly hostile toward LGBTQ+ communities, Naples preserves a tradition in which queerness is not only accepted but integrated into the social and spiritual fabric.
Figlie di Partenope is ultimately a film about visibility, dignity, and the enduring power of cultural identity in the face of societal change.
// Credits //
STARRING
Marika Gambardella
Mala Isernio
Ale Iorio
Giuseppe Guastaferro
Vincenzo Lemmo
Diego di Natale
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
Lorenz Klapfer
PRESENTED BY
BITTE EINEN FILM
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Jona Salcher
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Max Bauert
Nathan Engelhardt
Maxi Mayer
Tobias Gruber
Moritz Kluth
Lorenz Klapfer
PRODUCED BY
Nathan Engelhardt
Majda Brecelj
Lukas Mayer
1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA
Marvin Puscher
2ND ASSISTANT CAMERA
Roberto Graniglia
GAFFER
Anna Avetyan
BEST BOY
David Merlin Demuschewski
Johann Graham Engelhardt
EDIT
David Herbst
GRADING
Franziska Heinemann
VFX & Compositing
Sir Gulliver Jonathan Klauser
GRAPHICS
Maxi Mayer
ORIGINAL SCORE & SOUNDDESIGN
Studio CCEE
Lilian Mikorey
Quirin Brunhuber
Joaquin Freccia
SPECIAL THANKS
Studio CNP
Christoph Schaller
Don Antonio Chirichella
Famiglia Rallo