Alice guy. the first female filmmaker in history

Emmanuelle Gaume

Éditions Plon, 456 pages, 2015

Full English manuscript available

Why you should take a look at it:
√ Uncover a forgotten cinematic pioneer
√ A thrilling blend of biography and film history
√ For film lovers and feminists alike

“Alice Guy was more than just a talented businesswoman; she was a filmmaker of rare sensitivity, with a remarkably poetic eye. She was forgotten by the industry she helped create.” – Martin Scorsese

In Alice Guy. The First Female Filmmaker in History, Emmanuelle Gaume brings vividly back to life the extraordinary story of Alice Guy-Blaché, the world’s first female film director—and one of cinema’s greatest forgotten pioneers. Bold, visionary, and fiercely independent, Alice Guy shattered the glass ceilings of the nascent film industry, directing and producing hundreds of groundbreaking films at a time when cinema was still inventing itself.

From the bustling studios of Gaumont in Paris to blazing trails across the United States, Gaume captures the relentless spirit of a woman who defied every convention: becoming a studio head, a technical innovator, and a creative force whose influence shaped the very language of film. Yet, despite her monumental contributions, Alice’s name was erased from history, buried beneath the canon of male filmmakers.

This gripping biographical portrait is more than a life story—it’s a powerful act of reclamation and justice. Blending rigorous historical research with vivid storytelling, Gaume resurrects Alice Guy-Blaché’s legacy with passion and precision, spotlighting a forgotten trailblazer who deserves to be recognized as one of cinema’s founding architects.

Essential reading for film buffs, feminists, historians, and anyone captivated by stories of resilience and forgotten genius, this book will change how we see the origins of cinema—and who gets to write its history.

Emmanuelle Gaume is a producer, director, and writer, acclaimed for her documentary Elle s’appelle Alice Guy.