# Spanish films that won the Oscar for Best International Feature: all four

> All four Spanish films that won the Oscar for Best International Feature, from Begin the Beguine and Belle Époque to All About My Mother and The Sea Inside.

Source: https://rankiew.app/blog/spanish-films-won-oscar-best-international-feature
Published: 2026-11-03 · Updated: 2026-11-11
Author: Rankiew
Tags: world cinema, oscars, spanish cinema, best international feature, pedro almodóvar, the sea inside

Spain has won this category four times, from José Luis Garci in the early 1980s to Alejandro Amenábar in 2005. Along the way came Fernando Trueba and Pedro Almodóvar, two of the country's great filmmakers.

Each winner below comes with the story behind its Oscar, what to look for when you watch it and who it is best for. Together they cover more than twenty years of Spanish cinema, from a quiet drama about memory to Almodóvar's melodrama and a true story that moved the whole country.

# Spain and the Oscar for international film

Spain is one of the European countries with the most nominations in this category, but only four wins. Each of them arrived at a different moment for Spanish cinema: the early years of democracy, the comedies of the nineties, the international rise of Almodóvar and a new generation led by Alejandro Amenábar.

The four winners are very different from each other. There is a nostalgic drama about a man returning home, a sunny comedy set just before the Second Republic, a melodrama about mothers and actresses, and a true story about the right to die. What they share is a strong sense of character and a very Spanish mix of humor and melancholy.

The category was called Best Foreign Language Film until 2019, when the Academy renamed it Best International Feature Film. The award goes to the country, which submits one film per year, and it is accepted by the director. That is why these victories are often celebrated in Spain as national achievements.

# The four Spanish winners

This list includes every Spanish film that has won the award, in order of release. We did not include Spanish films that were only nominated, or Spanish-language films submitted by other countries.

For each film we add the director, the genre, who it is for and the year of the ceremony. Below, you will also find the story behind each win and a few details to notice when you watch.

## 1. Begin the Beguine (1982)

::film[Volver a empezar|1982]

A Nobel-winning Spanish writer returns to Gijón to see his first love.

- **Director:** José Luis Garci
- **Genre:** Drama

**Why it matters:** Begin the Beguine, directed by José Luis Garci, was the first Spanish film to win the Oscar in this category. It follows a Nobel Prize winning writer who returns from exile to his hometown of Gijón, where he meets the woman he loved in his youth while hiding that he is seriously ill. The title comes from the Cole Porter song.

![A scene from Begin the Beguine (1982)](/blog/scenes/spanish-films-won-oscar-best-international-feature/1.jpg)

Watch how the film is built from small moments: walks by the sea, phone calls, old friends and memories of the past. Garci shot it on a modest budget, and its gentle, nostalgic tone was a surprise winner against bigger productions.

It is ideal for viewers who like quiet dramas about memory and second chances. Today it is less known than the other winners, which makes it a rewarding discovery for anyone exploring the history of Spanish cinema.

**Worth it if:** you want to discover a gentle Spanish classic.

**Oscars:** 1983 · Winner: Best International Feature Film

## 2. Belle Époque (1992)

::film[Belle Époque|1992]

A young deserter in 1931 Spain is taken in by a painter with four daughters.

- **Director:** Fernando Trueba
- **Genre:** Comedy, Drama

**Why it matters:** Belle Époque, directed by Fernando Trueba, takes place in 1931, just before the Second Spanish Republic. A young army deserter finds shelter in the house of an old painter and falls for his four daughters, one of them played by a young Penélope Cruz. The film won nine Goya Awards, and Trueba's Oscar speech, in which he thanked Billy Wilder instead of God, became famous.

![A scene from Belle Époque (1992)](/blog/scenes/spanish-films-won-oscar-best-international-feature/2.jpg)

Pay attention to the light and the countryside, which give the film the feeling of an endless summer. The comedy is warm and sensual, and it treats freedom, desire and politics with a lightness that was rare at the time.

It is a perfect choice for viewers who enjoy romantic comedies with a touch of history. The cast, led by Jorge Sanz and Fernando Fernán Gómez, makes it a good introduction to the Spanish actors of the nineties.

**Worth it if:** you want a sunny, sensual Spanish comedy.

**Oscars:** 1994 · Winner: Best International Feature Film

## 3. All About My Mother (1999)

::film[Todo sobre mi madre|1999]

A mother travels to Barcelona after her son's death and finds an unexpected family.

- **Director:** Pedro Almodóvar
- **Genre:** Drama

**Why it matters:** All About My Mother is one of Pedro Almodóvar's most celebrated films. Manuela, played by Cecilia Roth, loses her teenage son and travels to Barcelona to find his father, meeting a group of women who become her family. The film also won Best Director at Cannes, and Penélope Cruz's joyful shout of "Pedro!" when presenting the award became part of Oscar history.

![A scene from All About My Mother (1999)](/blog/scenes/spanish-films-won-oscar-best-international-feature/3.jpg)

Watch the references to All About Eve and to A Streetcar Named Desire, which the characters perform on stage. Almodóvar uses intense colors, melodrama and humor to talk about grief, motherhood and identity, with memorable roles for Marisa Paredes and Antonia San Juan.

The film is ideal for anyone who wants to start with Almodóvar, because it brings together everything that defines his style. It is moving and funny at the same time, and it is dedicated to actresses, mothers and women who act.

**Worth it if:** you love Almodóvar and stories about women.

**Oscars:** 2000 · Winner: Best International Feature Film

## 4. The Sea Inside (2004)

::film[Mar adentro|2004]

Ramón Sampedro, paralyzed for decades, fights for the right to die.

- **Director:** Alejandro Amenábar
- **Genre:** Biography, Drama

**Why it matters:** The Sea Inside, directed by Alejandro Amenábar, tells the true story of Ramón Sampedro, a Galician sailor left quadriplegic after an accident, who fought for nearly thirty years for the right to end his life. Javier Bardem, aged with makeup, won Best Actor at Venice, and the film won fourteen Goya Awards.

![A scene from The Sea Inside (2004)](/blog/scenes/spanish-films-won-oscar-best-international-feature/4.jpg)

Pay attention to how the film escapes the bedroom where Ramón spends his days: dream sequences let him fly over the Galician landscape to the sea. The story is sad, but it is also full of warmth, humor and characters who love Ramón even when they disagree with him.

It is ideal for viewers ready for a serious and deeply human drama. The film sparked a national debate about euthanasia in Spain, and Bardem's performance is one of the best of his career.

**Worth it if:** you are ready for a true and deeply human drama.

**Oscars:** 2005 · Winner: Best International Feature Film

# Where to start

Four very different films. Choose by mood:

- **Light and romantic:** *Belle Époque*.
- **Melodrama with color and humor:** *All About My Mother*.
- **A true and moving story:** *The Sea Inside*.
- **A quiet classic to discover:** *Begin the Beguine*.

If you have never seen a Spanish film, Belle Époque is the easiest door in: it is short, funny and sunny. All About My Mother is the best way to discover Almodóvar, and it often becomes a favorite after the first viewing.

The Sea Inside is the most intense of the four, so save it for a night when you are ready for strong emotions. Begin the Beguine works best for viewers curious about how Spanish cinema looked in the early eighties.

# How many Oscars for Best International Feature has Spain won?

Spain has won the category four times, with Begin the Beguine, Belle Époque, All About My Mother and The Sea Inside.

# Has Pedro Almodóvar won other Oscars?

Yes. Besides All About My Mother, he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Talk to Her (2002).

# Have Spanish actors won Oscars?

Yes. Javier Bardem won for No Country for Old Men and Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, both in supporting categories.

# Which one is your favorite?

Pick your favorite on Rankiew: rate every film, write reviews, build lists and start clubs to talk movies with friends.

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**More from the series:** [Oscars 2022: every nominee and winner, category by category](/blog/oscars-2022-all-nominees)