Federico Fellini is truly one of the most influential film directors to have ever walked on this planet. His vision and experience for film reflected on all of his observations of his life experiences. He has influenced some of the greatest directors of today’s generation of great filmmakers. Fellini is a world-renowned film director who was born on January 20th, 1920 right after the First World War in Rimini, Italy. He was the oldest child out of three. When he was 18, he went to Rome to study. This allowed him to avoid being drafted as the Second World War broke out.

Federico Fellini – January 20, 1920 – October 31, 1993) , Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for his distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images. He won five Academy Awards including the most number of Oscars in history for Best Foreign Language Film.

Federico Fellini was a tremendously talented artist. He began his work experience as a cartoonist. Shortly thereafter, he changed artistic direction and moved into becoming a writer and actor in various comedy productions around Italy. He also did some work in radio programs with his lifetime friend Aldo Fabrizi. Some say that due to his friendship with Fabrizi, his career catapulted into the limelight. A famous and highly talented Italian director at the time, Roberto Rossellini, was looking to cast Fabrizi in one of his films. Fellini politely obliged to setting up the meeting and from there, Fellini actually became an assistant scriptwriter.

Donatella Damiani and Federico Fellini on the set of La città delle donne by Federico Fellini, 1980

This new position as assistant scriptwriter opened the eyes of Federico Fellini. He was able to see and understand from firsthand experience how films were created, produced and edited. From here on out is how Fellini became the influential person he is known as today.Most people mark a successful career by the number of years that they have experience in their field. Over 5 decades, 50 years, Fellini had been in the business. Another mark of fame, he had gained several awards with critical acclaim. Just a modest selection of the awards he achieved included four Oscars for Best Foreign Language film.

8 1/2 . 

So why was Federico Fellini influential and a legacy? He brought a new genre to the public. His films are characterized by a series of interwoven dreams, memories, fantasies and desire reflected on reality. One loses his boundaries throughout these films. When it comes to any type of hallucinatory imagery in a film, it is referred to as “Felliniesque” named after the great Italian director, Federico Fellini. Some of his greatest movies include “8 ½,” “Amacord,” “I Vitellone,” “La Dolce Vida,” “La Strada,” “Juliet of the Spirits” and “Le Notti di Cabiria.”

Donatella Damiani and Federico Fellini on the set of La città delle donne by Federico Fellini, 1980

Fellini inspired some of the greatest filmmakers of today who display many “Felliniesque” scenes in their movies including the infamous Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, Terry Gilliam and David Lynch. Federico Fellini lived a magnificent life. He attributed most of his inspiration to his wife, Giuletta Masina who was an Italian actress who he met shortly before becoming an assistant scriptwriter. He was married to the love of his life for 50 years. He passed away the day after his 50th anniversary with his wife of a heart attack on October 31, 1993 in Rome. He will never be forgotten with a lifetime achievement of excellent and influential films.