Trivia

The term "paparazzi" comes from a character named Paparazzo in his film, La dulce vida (1960), who is a journalist photographing celebrities.

His ten favorite films are El circo (1928), Any of Marx Brothers or Laurel and Hardy films, La diligencia (1939), Rashomon (1950), El discreto encanto de la burguesía (1972), 2001. Odisea del espacio (1968), Paisà (1946), Los pájaros (1963), Fresas silvestres (1957) and 8½ (1963).

Many of his movies such as 8½ (1963) or Satiricón (1969) are influenced by the work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung and his ideas on the "anima" and the "animus", the role of archetypes and the collective unconscious.

He was a big fan of Stan Lee and Marvel Comics (publishers of superhero comics like Spiderman and the Hulk).

Has been described as a major influence by, among others, Ingmar Bergman, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Bernardo Bertolucci and Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

His movies La calle (1954), Las noches de Cabiria (1957), 8½ (1963) and Amarcord (1973) were Oscar-nominated for "Best Foreign Language Film". All 4 movies won.

He had a bombastic, short-tempered personality when shooting films, a personality he made no attempt to hide when cameras were on him.

One of his first writing jobs was the Italian language script for the Flash Gordon comic strip.

His hometown Rimini named the Federico Fellini International Airport in his honor.

Was voted the 10th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Is buried in the same bronze tomb as his wife Giulietta Masina and their son Pier Federico, located at the main entrance to the Cemetery of Rimini.

Died the day after his 50th wedding anniversary.

Was an admirer of director Ken Russell's work.

Died on the same day as actor River Phoenix.

Denied his film Amarcord (1973) is autobiographical, but agreed that there are similarities with his own childhood.

Like his fellow World Cinema masters, Ingmar Bergman (who started in live theater) and Akira Kurosawa (who started in the Japanese art world) he came to cinema via circumvention after working as a journalist.

His son Pier Federico was born on 22 March 1945, but died just one month later.

Dino De Laurentiis originally hoped that Fellini would direct Flash Gordon (1980).

A great admirer of Georges Simenon's novels. They shared a letter friendship for many years.

First Italian to have been nominated for for the Best Director Oscar. Over the years, he was followed by Pietro Germi, Michelangelo Antonioni, Gillo Pontecorvo, Bernardo Bertolucci, Lina Wertmüller and Roberto Benigni.

Inspired the word "Felliniesque"

In the 5th edition of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (edited by Steven Jay Schneider), 7 of Fellini's films are listed: La calle (1954), Las noches de Cabiria (1957), La dulce vida (1960), 8½ (1963), Julieta de los espíritus (1965), Satiricón (1969) and Amarcord (1973).

Had four Best Director Oscar nominations, eight Best Screenplay nominations and four of his films won the Best Foreign Language Oscar, but not one of those films which he wrote or directed (or both) were ever nominated for Best Picture, nor did he ever win a competitive Oscar.

In 1966 he abandoned his planned film project "The Journey of G. Mastorna". In 1990 the storyline for the film was later adapted into a graphic novel entitled "Trip to Tulum: From a Script for a Film Idea", illustrated by Milo Manara.

He was the inspiration and his voice was sampled for the album "Fellini Days" (released in 2001) by former Marillion singer Fish.

Born to Urbano Fellini (1894-1956), a salesman and wholesale vendor, and his wife Ida Barbiani (1896-1984), he had two younger siblings, Riccardo (1921-1991) and Maria Maddalena (1929-2002).

The main character, Guido Contini, in the Maury Yeston musical "Nine" is inspired by Fellini.

Profiled in "Conversations with Directors: An Anthology of Interviews from Literature/Film Quarterly", E.M. Walker, D.T. Johnson, eds. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2008.

The Broadway musical "Sweet Charity" was inspired by Fellini's Oscar-winning film, Las noches de Cabiria (1957).

He is mentioned in the song "Radio Blá" by Lobão. .

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 330-341. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.

He's portrayed by Alberto Paradossi in Permette? Alberto Sordi (2020).

Retrospective at the 7th New Horizons Film Festival (2007).

Born on the same day as actor DeForest Kelley.

In the credits of their first homonymous album, Spanish music band Olé Olé paid tribute officially to Fellini by dedicating him their song "Mirando la luna por la ventana" (English version "Moon"): «To Federico Fellini and Nino Rota».

Mentioned in the song "Radio Blá", performed by Brazilian rock singer Lobão.

Brazilian post punk rock band Fellini got their name after him.