Federico Fellini facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Federico Fellini OMRI
Born	(1920-01-20)20 January 1920 Rimini, Kingdom of Italy
Died	31 October 1993(1993-10-31) (aged 73) Rome, Italy
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	1945–1992
Spouse(s)	Giulietta Masina ​ (m. 1943)​

Federico Fellini (born January 20, 1920 – died October 31, 1993) was a famous Italian filmmaker. He was known for his unique style, which mixed dreams and grand, artistic images with real-life feelings. Many people consider him one of the greatest and most important filmmakers of all time.

His movies often appear on lists of the best films ever made. For example, his 1963 film ⁸⁄₁ is listed as the 10th-greatest film by Sight & Sound magazine. Some of his most famous films include La Strada (1954), La Dolce Vita (1960), and Amarcord (1973).

Fellini was nominated for 16 Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) during his career. He won four Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, which is more than any other director. He also received a special honorary Oscar for his amazing work in movies. He won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival (the Palme d'Or) for La Dolce Vita in 1960.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Rimini (1920–1938)

Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, a small town in Italy. His father, Urbano Fellini, was a traveling salesman. His mother, Ida Barbiani, came from a family of merchants. Federico had two younger siblings, Riccardo and Maria Maddalena.

In 1924, Federico started primary school. He loved to draw, put on puppet shows, and read children's magazines. He especially enjoyed American cartoons, which later inspired characters in his films. In 1926, he discovered the circus and movies. The first film he saw, Maciste all'Inferno, had a big impact on him.

When he was a teenager, Fellini opened a portrait shop in Rimini. He also published his first humorous article. He decided he wanted to be a caricaturist (someone who draws funny pictures of people) and a gag writer. In 1938, he published his first cartoon in a weekly magazine.

Moving to Rome (1939)

In September 1939, Fellini moved to Rome. He was supposed to study law at the university, but he never went to classes. He was very poor and tried to make money by drawing sketches of people in cafes.

Eventually, Fellini found work as a reporter for newspapers. He soon joined the team at Marc'Aurelio, a popular humor magazine. This was a very important time for him. He met many writers and scriptwriters, which led to opportunities in show business and movies. He also met Aldo Fabrizi, a famous performer, and started writing funny monologues for him.

Filmmaking Career

Starting in Screenwriting (1940–1943)

With Fabrizi's help, Fellini got his first credit as a comedy writer for a film called Il pirata sono io in 1940. He quickly started working on many films at Cinecittà, a famous film studio. He also began writing radio shows.

In 1942, Fellini met his future wife, Giulietta Masina, while working on a radio show. She was well-known for her musical-comedy broadcasts. They got married on October 30, 1943. Sadly, their only son, Pierfederico, was born in 1945 but died just 11 days later. This was a very difficult time for them.

Learning Neorealism (1944–1949)

After Rome was freed by the Allies in 1944, Fellini opened a shop where he drew caricatures of American soldiers. He then got involved with Italian neorealism, a style of filmmaking that showed real life, often with non-professional actors.

The famous director Roberto Rossellini asked Fellini to help write the script for his film Rome, Open City. In 1947, Fellini was nominated for an Oscar for this screenplay. He also worked as a writer and assistant director on Rossellini's film Paisà.

First Films as Director (1950–1953)

In 1950, Fellini co-directed his first feature film, Variety Lights, with Alberto Lattuada. It was a comedy about small-time performers. The film didn't do well, and the production company went bankrupt.

His first film as a solo director was The White Sheik in 1951. It was a light-hearted comedy about a newlywed couple. Critics didn't like it much at first. However, in 1953, his film I Vitelloni was a success with both critics and the public. It won an award at the Venice Film Festival and helped Fellini become known internationally.

Moving Beyond Neorealism (1954–1960)

Fellini directed La Strada in 1954. During the filming, he felt very stressed and started therapy. This film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 1957, he directed Nights of Cabiria, starring his wife, Giulietta Masina. She won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role. This film also won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

His next major film was La Dolce Vita (1960). It was a huge success and broke box office records. However, it also caused a lot of controversy because some people thought it was "immoral." The Vatican's newspaper even criticized it. Despite this, the film won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the Cannes Film Festival. This film also gave us the word "paparazzi" from one of its characters.

Art Films and Dreams (1961–1969)

After La Dolce Vita, Fellini became very interested in the ideas of Carl Jung, a famous psychologist. Jung's ideas about dreams and the unconscious mind greatly influenced Fellini's later films. He started keeping a record of his dreams.

In 1963, Fellini made ⁸⁄₁. The title refers to the number of films he had directed up to that point. The film is about a director who is struggling with creative block and doesn't know what film to make. Fellini decided to tell the story of his own confusion. This unique film won Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design.

His next film, Juliet of the Spirits (1965), was his first full-length color film. It explored dreams and fantasy, influenced by Jung's ideas. He continued to make unique and imaginative films like Fellini Satyricon (1969), which was set in ancient Rome.

Later Films and Projects (1981–1990)

Fellini was also a talented caricaturist. In 1982, his drawings were shown in major art exhibitions. He often used his sketches to develop characters and sets for his films.

In 1985, Fellini received a special Golden Lion award for his lifetime achievements at the Venice Film Festival. He was also the first non-American to receive an award from the Film Society of Lincoln Center for his cinematic work.

He continued to make films, including Intervista (1987), which mixed his memories of visiting Cinecittà studios with present-day filming. This film won a special prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1989, he directed The Voice of the Moon, a poetic film about a man newly released from a mental institution.

Final Years and Death

In April 1993, Fellini received his fifth Oscar, a special award for his lifetime achievements in cinema. This award recognized how his films had entertained and thrilled audiences around the world.

Sadly, Fellini suffered a stroke a few months later. He died in Rome on October 31, 1993, at the age of 73, just one day after his 50th wedding anniversary. About 70,000 people attended his memorial service at Cinecittà studios.

His wife, Giulietta Masina, died five months later. Fellini, Masina, and their son, Pierfederico, are buried together in a unique bronze tomb shaped like a ship's prow in Rimini. The airport in Rimini is named the Federico Fellini Airport in his honor.

Religious and Political Views

Fellini grew up in a Catholic family and considered himself Catholic. His films often included Catholic themes, sometimes celebrating them and sometimes questioning church rules.

He generally disliked strict rules and believed in the importance of individual freedom. He usually avoided politics, but he did not support communism. He preferred more moderate political groups. He rarely expressed strong political views in public.

Influence and Legacy

Fellini's films are known for their unique blend of memories, dreams, fantasy, and desires. The words "Fellinian" and "Felliniesque" are now used to describe any extravagant, imaginative, or artistic image in film and art. His film La Dolce Vita even added the word "paparazzi" to the English language.

Many famous filmmakers today, like Tim Burton and David Lynch, have said that Fellini influenced their work. His films have inspired other movies, musicals, and even songs. For example, I Vitelloni influenced films like Mean Streets and American Graffiti. Nights of Cabiria was adapted into the Broadway musical Sweet Charity.

Fellini's work is studied by scholars and film experts. There have been many exhibitions and documentaries about his life and films, showing how important he was to cinema.

Filmography

As a Director

As a Screenwriter

Television Commercials

• TV commercial for Campari Soda (1984)
• TV commercial for Barilla pasta (1984)
• Three TV commercials for Banca di Roma (1992)

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

Other Awards

Honors

Documentaries on Fellini

• Ciao Federico (1969). Directed by Gideon Bachmann (60 minutes).
• Federico Fellini – un autoritratto ritrovato (2000). Directed by Paquito Del Bosco (RAI TV, 68 minutes).
• Fellini: I'm a Born Liar (2002). Directed by Damian Pettigrew (102 minutes).
• How Strange to Be Named Federico (2013). Directed by Ettore Scola.
• Fellini degli spiriti (2020). Directed by Selma Dell'Olio [it].

Images for kids

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  Federico Fellini during the 1950s

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  Fellini, Masina, Carla del Poggio and Alberto Lattuada, 1952

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  Cinecittà – Teatro 5, Fellini's favorite studio.

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  Federico Fellini

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  Italian President Sandro Pertini receiving a David di Donatello Award from Fellini in 1985

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  Fellini rewards Marcello Mastroianni with the Golden Lion Honorary Award at the 47th Venice International Film Festival.

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  Dedicatory plaque to Fellini on Via Veneto, Rome: "To Federico Fellini, who made Via Veneto the stage for the La Dolce Vita – SPQR – 20 January 1995"

See also

In Spanish: Federico Fellini para niños

• Art film