Italian cinema has a distinguished trajectory in the history of the Oscars, with 14 wins in the category Best International Film.
In total, Italy has accumulated 33 nominations in the category. The most recent victory was with The Great Beauty (2014), directed by Paolo Sorrentino. The last nomination was in 2024, with the film I Captain, by Matteo Garrone.
In addition to these awards in the Best International Film category, productions and professionals from Italy won more than 30 statuettes in various categories.
Main achievements
Art direction and costume design
Professionals such as Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo stood out in films such as The Aviator (2004) and Hugo (2011).
Best international film
Italy leads with 14 awards, including three honorary Oscars before the category was made official.
- Scuscià (1947) – directed by Vittorio De Sica
- The Bicycle Thief (1949) – directed by Vittorio De Sica
- The Wall of Malapaga (1950) – directed by René Clément
- The great beauty (2014) – directed by Paolo Sorrentino
- La strada (1956) – directed by Federico Fellini
- The nights of Cabiria (1957) – directed by Federico Fellini
- 8'' (1963) – directed by Federico Fellini
- Yesterday Today Tomorrow (1964) – directed by Vittorio De Sica
- Investigation of a citizen above suspicion (1970) – directed by Elio Petri
- The garden of the Finzi-Continis (1971) – directed by Vittorio De Sica
- Amarcord (1974) – directed by Federico Fellini
- Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1989) – directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
- Mediterranean (1991) – directed by Gabriele Salvatores
- Life is Beautiful (1998) – directed by Roberto Benigni
Best direction
Bernardo Bertolucci won by The Last Emperor (1987), and Frank Capra, a filmmaker of Italian origin, won three Oscars for It Happened That Night (1934) The Gallant Mr. Deeds (1936) and Nothing is taken from the world (1938).
Best Actor and Actress
Anna Magnani was the first Italian to win the Oscar for Best Actress for The Tattooed Rose (1955). Sophia Loren won the Best Actress award for Two women (1961), becoming the first to win for a performance in a foreign language. Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for Best Actor for Life is Beautiful (1998).
Original script
Ennio De Concini, Alfredo Giannetti and Pietro Germi received the Oscar for Divorce the Italian way (1961).
Soundtrack
Italian composers were recognized, such as Nino Rota for The Godfather Part II (1974) and Ennio Morricone by The eight hated (2015).
Top Italian nominees and winners
Marcello Mastroianni: record holder among Italians, he received three Oscar nominations for Best Actor for “Divorce the Italian way"(1962),"A Very Special Day"(1977) and"Black Eyes"(1987).
Anna Magnani: won the Oscar for Best Actress for “The Tattooed Rose” (1955) and was nominated again for “Wild is the Wind"(1957).
Sophia Loren: won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Two women” (1960) and was nominated for “Italian Wedding” (1964).
Roberto Benigni: won the Oscar for Best Actor for “Life is Beautiful” (1997).
Marisa pavan: nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “The Tattooed Rose” (1955).
Giancarlo Giannini: nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for “Pasqualino Seven Beauties” (1976).
Massimo Troisi: nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for “The Postman and the Poet” (1994).
Valentina cortese: nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “The American Night” (1973).
