On Wednesday, December 10, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York officially opened a tribute to Carlo Rambaldi, in collaboration with Cinecittà and with the support of the Directorate-General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Italian Ministry of Culture. The programme opened with the screening of the 4K restored version of Deep Red (1975), restored by Cinecittà under the supervision of Dario Argento.
The event is part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Carlo Rambaldi, one of the most influential special effects artists in film history. Running through 24 December 2025, the MoMA retrospective features 15 films spanning Rambaldi’s entire career, from his early collaborations in Italian auteur cinema to his iconic Hollywood creations, including King Kong, Alien, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Dune. The programme also includes four new restorations curated by Cinecittà.
Ahead of the opening screening, a reception brought together leading figures from the cultural and film communities, including Daniela Rambaldi, President of the Carlo Rambaldi Foundation, Cristina Rambaldi, Vice President of the Foundation, and other members of the Rambaldi family, alongside representatives of Italian institutions in New York, MoMA and Cinecittà.
Commenting on the initiative, Lucia Borgonzoni, Undersecretary of State for Culture, highlighted the importance of celebrating Rambaldi’s creative genius internationally, noting how deeply his work continues to be appreciated in the United States. Introducing the evening, Rajendra Roy, MoMA’s Chief Curator of Film, reflected on the lasting value of Rambaldi’s work as a testament to craftsmanship and physical, hand-built artistry in an increasingly digital era, recalling both his legendary collaborations with Italian directors and the global impact of his most famous creations.
The event concluded with a moving personal tribute from Cristina Rambaldi, who shared reflections on her grandfather’s artistic legacy, describing how each creature he created embodied fragments of his life and humanity — an inheritance that continues to live on through cinema and the imagination of audiences worldwide.
