The Biennale
Building new cultural spaces is a complex and vital process needed to highlight narrations of the present, often unheeded yet fundamental.
For this reason, the cultural association “La Papessa”, was founded in 2018: its primary activity was giving life to the Biennale of Female Photography. The event aims at filling a substantial gap in the contemporary landscape by collating and displaying a selection of the complex female authorship in photography.
Once every two years, the festival opens Mantua’s doors to the world, curating a series of photo exhibitions - with Alessia Locatelli’s artistic direction - and other collateral events like talks, screenings and workshops. The first of its kind in Italy, the event debuted its first edition on the theme of “Work” in 2020, a topic represented in its multifaceted aspects by women photographers. The festival acts as a platform to support and amplify not just the female gaze and voices but also those of marginalised communities who often see their very existence ignored and questioned. In our approach, culture is an inclusive life space.
Archive
BFF 2020
Our team
Una dedica alla memoria della nostra amica e web developer Cecilia Carli (1989-2023) che ha tanto dedicato alla BFF

Anna Volpi
President

Chiara Maretti
Vice-President

Alessia Locatelli
Art Director

Beatrice Bassi
Location Manager

Agnese Mosi
Sponsorship

Ivana Coppolaro
Administrative Assistant

Giulia Rizzini
Identity & Communication

Francesco Palmisano
IT & Marketing

Lisa Dal Lago
Web Design | Volunteer Coordinator

Barbara Silvestri
Gestione volontari

Michela Guadagnini
Video content

Elena Dolci
Social Media Graphics

Beatrice Lattanzi
Assistant curator

Martina Nicole Garbin
Location manager assistant

Stefania d'Alberto
Programmi scolastici

Giulia Tomasi
Programmi scolastici

Chiara Bruera
Sponsorship

Ilaria Aucelli
Sponsorship

Giorgia Giuzio
Collaborating Translator

Anna Volpi
President

Chiara Maretti
Vice-President

Alessia Locatelli
Art Director

Beatrice Bassi
Location Manager

Agnese Mosi
Sponsorship

Ivana Coppolaro
Administrative Assistant

Giulia Rizzini
Identity & Communication

Francesco Palmisano
IT & Marketing

Lisa Dal Lago
Web Design | Volontari

Barbara Silvestri
Gestione volontari

Michela Guadagnini
Video content

Elena Dolci
Social Media Graphics

Beatrice Lattanzi
Assistant curator

Martina Nicole Garbin
Location manager assistant

Stefania d'Alberto
Programmi scolastici

Giulia Tomasi
Programmi scolastici

Chiara Bruera
Sponsorship

Ilaria Aucelli
Sponsorship

Giorgia Giuzio
Collaborating Translator
Opportunities
Work experience
for high schoolers
Being part of a festival is a highly formative experience, where one can experience the various sides of bringing a cultural project to fruition. We offer interested students the chance to get their work experience credits with us, as we believe culture starts at school.