11/Jan/2014

The Award for Best Foreign Language Film Goes To: Italy!

Italy has won more awards for Best Foreign Language Film than any other country

It’s almost Oscar Time! Soon the stars will be heading down the red carpet in Los Angeles to see who goes home with a golden statuette for their work in 2013. For us that means that it’s time for a bit of well-deserved bragging! Did you know that Italy has won the most Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film than any other country?

The Category of Best Foreign Langauge Film was first introduced for the 1956 Academy Awards. Prior to 1956 honorary awards were sometimes given to Foreign Langauge films released in the United States, but without the competition of nominees. Of course, we would like to point out that both the first honorary award, and the first award in the newly-created category in 1956 both went to Italian films!

Best Foreign Language Film 1947 - 2012: Complete List of Winning Countries

(Including the Honorary Awards given between 1947 and 1955)

 

Italy

 

13

 

France

 

12

 

Japan, Russia, Spain

 

4

 

Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden

 

3

 

Argentina, Switzerland, Austria

 

2

 

Algeria, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Canada, Hungary, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Taiwan, Iran

 

 

1

 

The last time that an Italian film won was in 1998 for Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful. Paolo Sorrentino's La Grande Bellezza has already been short listed for this year's Oscars and will most likely receive a nomination. We’re excited to see which films from 2013 are nominated for the 86th Academy Awards Ceremony this February - We'll be cheering for Italy to stay in the lead!

Complete list of Italian Films that have won the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award