A Kind of Language: Storyboards and Other Renderings for Cinema is set to open at Fondazione Prada’s Osservatorio in Milan from January 30th to September 8th, 2025. Curated by Melissa Harris, the exhibition delves into the intricate creative process behind filmmaking, spotlighting over 800 objects such as storyboards, mood boards, sketches, annotated scripts, and photographs. Spanning nearly a century of cinematic history, the show features contributions from more than 50 creatives, including directors, cinematographers, and animators.
The exhibition traces the origins of storyboarding, from Georges Méliès’ early preparatory drawings for Trip to the Moon to contemporary works from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Highlights include Walt Disney Productions’ iconic sketches from the 1930s and Fleischer Studios’ pioneering work in animation, showcasing how visual planning has shaped the narrative and technical evolution of filmmaking. As Harris explains, storyboards act as both a creative and practical tool, helping filmmakers visualize scenes, refine character interactions, and plot camera angles and lighting.
Designed by Andrea Faraguna of Berlin-based Sub, the exhibition space mimics the working environment of storyboard artists, featuring tables inspired by classic drafting desks. Visitors can explore the works of celebrated filmmakers such as Wes Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, Sofia Coppola, Federico Fellini, and Agnès Varda, among others. Accompanying the exhibition is a film program at Cinema Godard, featuring movies tied to the project, and an illustrated publication with texts by Harris and Sub.
Don’t miss this captivating look into the visual language of cinema, where art and storytelling converge.
Courtesy of FONDAZIONE PRADA
