In conjunction with its exhibition "Fellini's Book of Dreams," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a special screening of Federico Fellini's "8½," on Friday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Robert Rosen, dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, will host the evening.
Often described as one of the most personal and self-analytical films ever made, Fellini's masterpiece "8½" (1963) is a powerful meditation on the relationship between dreaming and the process of filming. Marcello Mastroianni stars as Guido Anselmi, a celebrated director struggling to find inspiration for his new movie. Needing to escape his wife, his mistress and industry peers, Anselmi retreats into the world of the subconscious, discovering personal recollections, dreams and fantasies. In Fellini's own words, the film is the story of "a film director who is trying to put together the pieces of his life...and to make sense of them, to understand what they mean."
"8½" won Oscars® for Foreign Language Film (Italy) and Black-and-White Costume Design (Piero Gherardi), and was also nominated for Directing (Fellini), Writing - Story and screenplay written directly for the screen (Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Brunello Rondi) and Black-and-White Art Direction (Gherardi).
Like Anselmi, Fellini dedicated himself to the exploration of his own dreams in order to become more self-aware; these explorations can be experienced in the exhibition "Fellini's Book of Dreams," on display through April 19 in the Academy's Grand Lobby Gallery. On April 17, the Academy will host special evening exhibition viewing hours from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and immediately following the screening.
Tickets for "8½" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office or by mail. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. All seating is unreserved. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.
