Fellini and Ebejer met in Sliema whilst Fellini was on holiday.
Bet you didn’t know that legendary Italian film director Federico Fellini was good friends with Malta’s very own Francis Ebejer…
Fellini, nowadays regarded as one of Italy’s – if not the world’s – best-ever directors, is behind a plethora of timeless classics, like La Dolce Vita, Roma, and Fellini’s Casanova.
The Italian director’s work has been recognised by critics and awards institutions time and time again, having been awarded four Oscars and nominated for another twelve.
Fellini visited Malta multiple times throughout his lifetime, and it’s here that he became friends with locally-renowned dramatist and novelist Francis Ebejer.
Ebejer was arguably the leading Maltese dramatist throughout the second half of the 20th century, having written over 50 plays for the stage, television, and radio.
Nowadays, he’s best known for his plays Vaganzi tas-Sajf (1962), Boulevard (1964), and Menz (1967). Ebejer’s also behind the novels Leap of Malta Dolphins (1982), In the Eye of the Sun (1969), and Wild Spell of Summer (1968).
His rumanzett, Il-Harsa ta’ Ruzann, has been studied by countless secondary school students sitting for their O’ Level exams.
Taking to social media, Damian Ebejer shared one very interesting artefact from his collection titled ‘Francis Ebejer’s Complete Collection of Manuscripts, Literary Works, and Other’ – a letter, dating back to 1963, sent by Fellini to Francis Ebejer.
In said letter, the Italian director invited Ebejer to visit him when in Rome.
“Dear Mr Ebejer, thank you for your kind words. If you’re ever in Rome, do come and find me. It would make me very happy. Best wishes for your work. Kind regards, Federico Fellini,” the letter reads.
What’s your favourite Francis Ebejer work?
Facebook/Francis Ebejer 1925-1993 & Instagram/federico_fellini