# The life and work of Federico Fellini: every film in order, from I Vitelloni to And the Ship Sails On > Who was Federico Fellini? His life and essential films in order, from La Strada and La Dolce Vita to 8½ and Amarcord, with his four Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, his style and where to start. Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/federico-fellini-life-and-work Published: 2026-08-21 Author: Rankiew Tags: directors, federico fellini, filmography Federico Fellini was an Italian director, born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, who died on October 31, 1993, in Rome. He made *La Strada*, *La Dolce Vita*, *8½* and *Amarcord*, and his dreamlike, circus-like style gave the language the word "Felliniesque". This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start. # Federico Fellini at a glance - **Born:** January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy (died October 31, 1993, in Rome) - **Known for:** *La Strada*, *Nights of Cabiria*, *La Dolce Vita*, *8½* and *Amarcord* - **Signature:** memory and dream, circus and carnival imagery, a mix of the tender and the grotesque and the music of Nino Rota - **Honors:** four Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film (*La Strada*, *Nights of Cabiria*, *8½* and *Amarcord*), the Palme d'Or for *La Dolce Vita* and an honorary Oscar in 1993 # Early life and career Fellini began as a cartoonist and humorist in Rome, then wrote screenplays, including for Roberto Rossellini's *Rome, Open City*. He directed his first solo film, *The White Sheik*, in 1952. His wife, actress Giulietta Masina, starred in several of his early films, and composer Nino Rota scored almost all of them. From the 1960s his films moved from neorealism to a personal world of memories, dreams and spectacle. # The films, era by era ## I Vitelloni (1953) ::film[I Vitelloni|1953] Five idle young men in a small seaside town dream of leaving but never do. A semi-autobiographical film that first made Fellini known abroad. ## La Strada (1954) ::film[La Strada|1954] A gentle young woman, played by Giulietta Masina, is sold to a brutish circus strongman. It won the first Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film awarded to an Italian film. ## Nights of Cabiria (1957) ::film[Nights of Cabiria|1957] A kind-hearted Roman prostitute keeps hoping for love, played by Giulietta Masina. It won Fellini his second Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. ## La Dolce Vita (1960) ::film[La Dolce Vita|1960] A journalist, played by Marcello Mastroianni, drifts through Rome's nightlife for seven days. It won the Palme d'Or and gave us the word "paparazzi". ## 8½ (1963) ::film[8½|1963] A film director in creative crisis fantasizes about the women in his life, with Marcello Mastroianni. A landmark about filmmaking itself, it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. ## Juliet of the Spirits (1965) ::film[Juliet of the Spirits|1965] A wife, played by Giulietta Masina, finds her imagination filled with spirits as she suspects her husband of cheating. His first feature in color, full of vivid costumes and fantasies. ## Fellini Satyricon (1969) ::film[Fellini Satyricon|1969] A wild, surreal vision of ancient Rome, adapted from Petronius. It earned Fellini a Best Director nomination at the Oscars. ## Roma (1972) ::film[Roma|1972] A mix of memories, documentary and fantasy about the city he came to as a young man. A love letter to Rome in the form of a collage. ## Amarcord (1973) ::film[Amarcord|1973] Memories of growing up in a seaside town in the 1930s, including a fascist parade, a big ship and a lusty shopkeeper. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. ## And the Ship Sails On (1983) ::film[And the Ship Sails On|1983] In 1914, a group of passengers sails on an ocean liner to scatter the ashes of a famous singer. A late, theatrical film about a world on the brink of war. # Federico Fellini movies in order 1. **I Vitelloni** (1953) 2. **La Strada** (1954) 3. **Nights of Cabiria** (1957) 4. **La Dolce Vita** (1960) 5. **8½** (1963) 6. **Juliet of the Spirits** (1965) 7. **Fellini Satyricon** (1969) 8. **Roma** (1972) 9. **Amarcord** (1973) 10. **And the Ship Sails On** (1983) # What defines a Federico Fellini film? - **Memory and dream.** Childhood, fantasies and reality blend into one flowing film. - **Circus and carnival.** Parades, clowns, grotesque faces and big crowd scenes fill the screen. - **Music by Nino Rota.** Warm, playful scores that became as famous as the films. # Frequently asked questions about Federico Fellini ## Who is Federico Fellini? Federico Fellini was an Italian director, born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, who died on October 31, 1993, in Rome. He made *La Strada*, *La Dolce Vita*, *8½* and *Amarcord*, and his dreamlike, circus-like style gave the language the word "Felliniesque". This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start. ## When and where was Federico Fellini born? Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920, in Rimini, Italy, and died on October 31, 1993, in Rome. ## What is Federico Fellini's best movie? Many critics point to *8½* or *La Dolce Vita*, while *La Strada* and *Amarcord* are the favorites of many fans. There is no single answer, so rate them on Rankiew and build your own ranking. ## Which Federico Fellini movie should I watch first? Start with *La Strada* for his most moving film, *La Dolce Vita* for the iconic Rome, *8½* for a film about making films and *Amarcord* for a funny, nostalgic classic. ## Did Federico Fellini win the Oscar for Best Director? No, but he was nominated four times for Best Director. His films *La Strada*, *Nights of Cabiria*, *8½* and *Amarcord* each won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and he received an honorary Oscar in 1993. # Rate every Federico Fellini movie Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own list of Federico Fellini movies. [Create your free Rankiew account](/signup?lang=en) *Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.*