(born Jan. 20, 1920, Rimini, Italy—died Oct. 31, 1993, Rome) Italian film director. After collaborating with
Roberto Rossellini on the screenplays for
Open City (1945) and
Paisan (1946), Fellini undertook his first solo venture in 1952. It failed, but his next film,
I vitelloni (1953), was a critical success. He won international acclaim with
La strada (1954, Academy Award),
The Nights of Cabiria (1957, Academy Award), and
La dolce vita (1960). He continued his distinctive autobiographical style of filmmaking—one that displayed a sympathetic fascination with the bizarre—in
812 (1963, Academy Award) but turned to gaudy spectacle in
Juliet of the Spirits (1965) and
Satyricon (1969). The best of his later films are
Amarcord (1973, Academy Award) and the nostalgic
Ginger and Fred (1985). His wife, Giulietta Masina (1920–94), starred in several of his films.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Newsletter