The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York will host a two-week screening series starting December 10, featuring 15 films that showcase the special effects work of the late mechatronics maestro Carlo Rambaldi. Co-curated with Rome's Cinecittà studios, the series spans Rambaldi's career from Italian arthouse and exploitation films to Hollywood blockbusters like *Alien* (1979), *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*, *King Kong* (1976), and *Dune* (1984). The screenings include films directed by Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Dario Argento, and David Lynch, among others. Rambaldi, who would have turned 100 this autumn, was also honored earlier this year with an exhibition at Long Island City Culture Lab and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This series matters because it celebrates the legacy of a pioneering special effects artist whose handcrafted, physically constructed creations stand in stark contrast to today's digital effects. MoMA's chief curator of film, Rajendra Roy, emphasizes that Rambaldi's work demonstrates the unique emotional connections that practical effects can generate, especially as the film industry debates the role of human-made imagery. The event also highlights the deep Italian-American creative exchange that shaped Rambaldi's career, from his early work in Italy to his transformative impact on Hollywood cinema.