Venice Horizons Opener ‘The Girl With the Leica’ Acquired by Fandango Sales
Fandango Sales has officially secured the international sales rights to Alina Marazzi’s highly anticipated film, The Girl With the Leica (La ragazza con la Leica). The announcement arrives on the heels of the Venice Film Festival’s revelation that the film has been selected as the prestigious opening title for its Horizons (Orizzonti) competition section, which honors films representing the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in global cinema.
The film paints an intimate and long-overdue portrait of Gerda Taro, the pioneering German-Jewish war photographer, anti-fascist, and artist whose legacy was tragically cut short. Born Gerta Pohorylle, Taro fled Nazi Germany for Paris in the 1930s, where she met and partnered with Hungarian photographer Endre Friedmann. Together, they created the legendary, lucrative pseudonym "Robert Capa." While Capa went on to achieve global renown, Taro’s immense contributions—particularly her brave coverage of the frontlines during the Spanish Civil War—were frequently misattributed or obscured by history. She was killed in action at the age of 26 during the Battle of Brunete in 1937, becoming the first female photojournalist to die while reporting on the front lines of conflict.
Directed by Alina Marazzi, a filmmaker celebrated for her innovative use of archival footage and focus on female identity (such as For One More Hour with You), the film utilizes a rich tapestry of historical materials, photographs, and dramatic reconstructions. The project aims to untangle Taro's brilliant, independent career from the shadow of Capa, asserting her status as a crucial pioneer of modern photojournalism.
According to Fandango Sales, the narrative of Taro's life carries profound contemporary relevance. "Gerda Taro was a woman of immense courage whose lens captured the fight against fascism with unparalleled intimacy," the sales company said in a statement. "Alina Marazzi’s sensitive, visually stunning direction makes this not just a historical biography, but an urgent exploration of truth, media, and female agency in times of crisis."
The selection of The Girl With the Leica to open the Horizons section underscores Venice's commitment to boundary-pushing cinema that challenges historical omissions. As international distributors gather on the Lido, Fandango Sales is positioning the title as a premier acquisition target for global arthouse buyers, anticipating strong resonance among audiences invested in feminist history, journalism, and European heritage.