A documentary delving into the life of Italian filmmaker Lina Wertmuller is in the works to mark the director's 50th anniversary in the industry.

Valerio Ruiz's Behind the White Glasses will explore the Oscar nominee's extensive career, from her early work with Federico Fellini, who hired her as his assistant director on comedy drama 8 1/2, to her collaborations with actor Giancarlo Giannini, the last of which, 1975's Seven Beauties, became an international hit.

The movie earned four Academy Award nods, including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Director - making Wertmuller the first woman ever to be nominated in the category. A woman didn't win the award until 2009, when Kathryn Bigelow was honoured for The Hurt Locker.

Ruiz, the acclaimed filmmaker's longtime assistant director, will begin production on Behind the White Glasses in Rome, Italy in April (13).