Maria Hirszbein : an (in)visible figure of Polish cinema of the 1920s and 1930s

This article examines the career of the Polish film producer Maria Hirszbein (1889-1939/1942) in relation to the development of interwar Polish cinema, including Yiddish films, and the modern idea of a "New Woman." Investigating Hirszbein's activities as the successful manager of her company, Leo-Film, and as cofounder and member of the Polish film producers' unions, the article explores her professional accomplishments and innovative work style, which was based on teamwork and promoting young, talented actors, creative directors, and screenwriters sensitive to social issues. In reconstructing Hirszbein's professional biography, the text combines different sources such as press reports, film reviews, photographs from the collection of the Polish National Film Archive (FINA), and data collected by the Institute of Jewish History in Warsaw.