Alessandro Ongaro

Alessandro Ongaro is a Swedish Visual Effects Supervisor. Born in Lugano, Switzerland, from early 3D work for architecture to high-end feature films, his journey has spanned Milan, Hollywood, DreamWorks, and DNEG. He was the production visual effects supervisor on Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) and Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

His interest in visual effects began in the early 1980s, rooted in his childhood. Growing up in Milan, he and his sister Silvia often spent time with their grandparents, watching Hollywood movies—sometimes ones far too mature for their age. His grandfather collected the Italian film magazine Ciak, whose special features on visual effects sparked Alessandro’s curiosity. Films like Star Wars (1977), Dune (1984), An American Werewolf in London (1981), and Tron (1982) fascinated him. At the time, though, he never imagined VFX as a possible profession.

In the early 1990s, after failing to pass the admission test for Politecnico di Milano, Ongaro enrolled in ISAD, a design school in Milan. There, he discovered 3D technology, a turning point in his career. He quickly excelled in 3D CAD and landed a part-time job at a design firm. At the same time, he experimented with early 3D rendering software, such as Crystal Topas 3D, which, despite its limitations, introduced him to ray tracing and cemented his passion for computer graphics. He realised that Hollywood was his ultimate goal.

After graduating in 1996, h…