Federico Fellini, (born January 20, 1920, Rimini, Italy—died October 31, 1993, Rome), was an Italian film director who was one of the most celebrated and singular filmmakers of the period after World War II.

'La dolce vita' won the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Costumes. It was nominated for three more Academy Awards, including Best Director for Federico Fellini. The film was a worldwide box-office success and a critical success, and is now frequently regarded as one of the greatest films in world cinema.

In 1944 Fellini met director Roberto Rossellini and became one of a team of writers for 'Roma, città aperta' (1945; Open City or Rome), a pioneer film of Neorealism. Fellini’s contribution to the screenplay earned him his first Oscar nomination.

'Otto e mezzo' (1963; 8 1/2) is among Fellini’s most widely praised films and earned the director his third Oscar for best foreign film. Entitled 8 1/2 for the number of films Fellini had made by that time (seven features and two shorts),

'Nights of Cabiria' won the Academy Award in 1958 for Best Foreign Language Film. 'Amarcord' won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1975, and was nominated for two more Academy Awards: Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

Fellini pursued a personal cinema that offered an alternative to standard commercial fare.

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