1. Penelope Cruz: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, 2008
Just a year after her husband Javier Bardem became the first Spanish actor to win a Supporting Role award at the Oscars, Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish female actor to win, for her role as María Elena in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a film which saw her acting alongside Bardem himself. In 2009 she was nominated for the same award for her role in Nine.
2. Javier Bardem: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, 2007
Whilst Spanish actor Javier Bardem treasures his native country, he has become an internationally known star. Bardem is known for his participation in both Spanish films and Hollywood blockbusters, giving life to villains and heroes alike. However, his most notable performance to date is that which won him the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting role in 2007, awarded for his portrayal of psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. Bardem was the first Spaniard to win the award.
3. The Sea Inside: Best Foreign Language Film, 2004
In 2004, Spanish film The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro) received critical acclaim for its tender depiction of the moral battles of euthanasia. Based off a real life story, the film centres around the life of Ramón Sampedro (Javier Bardem), who, left quadriplegic after an accident, spends 28 years campaigning for the right to end his own life, and explores the lasting impact Sampedro’s love has on two women with distinct views on life. The film, directed by Alejandro Amenábar, was also nominated for the Best Makeup Academy Award, and was a success at awards ceremonies worldwide, taking home 13 Goya Awards in its native country, Spain.
4. All About my Mother: Best Foreign Language Award, 1999
As Pedro Almodóvar’s first film to win an Oscar, All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi Madre) broke taboo’s surrounding topics of sexuality that, at the time, were not often covered in Spanish cinema, such as transsexuality and AIDS. Following the death of her seventeen year old son, Manuela, a single mother, returns to Barcelona to find her son’s father, meeting old friends and forming new meaningful relationships as she navigates life without her child. All About My Mother won two BAFTA awards (For Best Film Not in the English Language and for Best Director) as well as winning six Goya Awards.
5. Pedro Almodóvar: Best Original Screenplay for 'Talk to Her' , 2002
Considered to be one of Pedro Almodóvar’s greatest films, Talk to Her (Hable con Ella) was the first Spanish film to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Centered on the friendship formed between two men caring for their wives, both of whom are in comas, and exploring the difficulties in relationships between men and women, Talk to Her was an international success, taking home awards for Best Film Not in the English Language and Best Original Screenplay at the 2003 BAFTA awards.
6. Néstor Almendros: Best Cinematography for Days of Heaven, 1978
Néstor Almendros was born in Barcelona, and is often referred to as one of the best contemporary cinematographers worldwide. In addition to winning an Oscar for his work on Days of heaven (1978), he was nominated on three further occasions – for for Kramer vs Kramer in 1979, in 1980 for The Blue Lagoon and in 1982 for Sophie's choice. Almendros worked on many well-known feature films, such as Imagine: John Lennon, a documentary on the Beatles’ star, but is also the man behind fashion brand advertisements for Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. He died in New York aged 61, from AIDS related complications.
7. Begin the Beguine: Best Foreign Language Film, 1983
Begin the Beguine (Volver a Empezar) was the second of Asturian director José Luis Garci’s films to be nominated at the Academy Awards, and was also his only win, marking the first time a Spanish film won an award in this category. The film’s plot centres around the experiences of a Spanish man returning home in 1981 after being in exile for over forty years, following his win of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Garci’s subsequent films – Double Feature, Course Complicated and The Grandfather - went on to be nominated for Best Foreign Language award in 1984, 1987 and 1998 respectively.
8. Gil Parrondo: Best Art Direction Award, 1970 and 1971
Spanish art director and production Designer Gil Parrondo, now 96, won two back to back Best Art Direction Oscars for his work on Patton (1970) and for Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), as well as being put forward as a nominee for the art direction in Travels with My Aunt (1972). Parrondo is considered to be Spanish Cinema’s most infamous art-director, having worked in the film industry for over 60 years.
9. Antonio del Castillo: Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design 1971.
Whilst Nicholas and Alexandra is a British Biographical film, depicting the story of the last ruling Tsar in Russia, Nicholas II, the awards it won at the 1971 Academy Awards went to Gil Parrondo, its Art Director, and to Spanish costume designer Antonio del Castillo. The film, which was shot predominantly in Spain and Yugoslavia, was also nominated in five other categories, including Best Actress in a Leading Role for Janet Suzman, Best Cinematography, Best Music, Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Picture.
10. Belle Époque: Best Foreign Language Film, 1992
Along with one Goya Award for Best film, Spanish comedy-drama Belle Époque by Fernando Trueba, centred on the romantic endeavours of a young soldier in the pre- Civil War era, won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. In addition to its wins, it was nominated for eight further Goya Awards.
