Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film

Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film
Presented by Independent Spirit Awards
First awarded Kiss of the Spider Woman (1986)
Currently held by Joyland (2022)
Website spiritawards.com

The Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film is an award presented annually at the Independent Spirit Awards to recognize the best feature films produced outside United States. It was first presented in 1986, with Brazilian-American drama Kiss of the Spider Woman being the first recipient of the award.

Winners and nominees

1980s

Year Film Original Title Director Country
1985 Kiss of the Spider Woman O beijo da mulher aranha Héctor Babenco Brazil, United States
Dreamchild Gavin Millar United Kingdom
The Hit Stephen Frears
Ran 乱 / Ran Akira Kurosawa Japan
1986 A Room with a View James Ivory United Kingdom
Men… Männer… Doris Dörrie West Germany
28 Up Michael Apted United Kingdom
Mona Lisa Neil Jordan
My Beautiful Laundrette Stephen Frears
1987 My Life as a Dog Mitt liv som hund Lasse Hallström Sweden
Au revoir les enfants Louis Malle France, West Germany
Hope and Glory John Boorman United Kingdom
Prick Up Your Ears Stephen Frears
Tampopo タンポポ / Tampopo Juzo Itami Japan
1988 Wings of Desire Der Himmel über Berlin Wim Wenders West Germany
The Kitchen Toto Harry Hook United Kingdom
Bagdad Café Percy Adlon West Germany
A World Apart Chris Menges United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
Yeelen Souleymane Cissé Mali
1989 My Left Foot Jim Sheridan Ireland, United Kingdom
Hanussen István Szabó Hungary
Distant Voices, Still Lives Terence Davies United Kingdom
High Hopes Mike Leigh
Rouge 胭脂扣 / Yìnjì kau Stanley Kwan Hong Kong

1990s

Year Film Original Title Director Country
1990 Sweetie Jane Campion Australia
Black Rain 黒い雨 / Kuroi ame Shohei Imamura Japan
A City of Sadness 悲情城市 / Bēiqíng chéngshì Hou Hsiao-hsien Taiwan
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover Peter Greenaway France, United Kingdom
Freeze Die Come to Life Замри, умри, воскресни / Zamri, umri, voskresni! Vitali Kanevsky Soviet Union
1991 An Angel at My Table Jane Campion New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia
The Double Life of Véronique La double vie de Véronique Krzysztof Kieślowski France, Poland
Life is Sweet Mike Leigh United Kingdom
Requiem for Dominic Requiem für Dominik Robert Dornhelm Austria,France, Romania
Taxi Blues Такси-блюз / Taksi-Blyuz Pavel Lungin Soviet Union
1992 The Crying Game Neil Jordan United Kingdom
Close to Eden Урга / Urga Nikita Mikhalkov Soviet Union
Danzon Maria Novaro Mexico, Spain
Howards End James Ivory United Kingdom
Raise the Red Lantern 大红灯笼高高挂 / Dà Hóng Dēnglong Gāogāo Guà Zhang Yimou China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
1993 The Piano Jane Campion Australia
Naked Mike Leigh United Kingdom
Orlando Sally Potter
Like Water for Chocolate Como agua para chocolate Alfonso Arau Mexico
The Story of Qiu Ju 秋菊打官司 / Qiū Jú dǎ guānsi Zhang Yimou China,Hong Kong
1994 Three Colors: Red Trois couleurs: Rouge Krzysztof Kieślowski France, Poland
The Blue Kite 蓝风筝 / Lán fēngzheng Tian Zhuangzhuang China, Hong Kong
Ladybird, Ladybird Ken Loach United Kingdom
The Boys of St. Vincent John N. Smith Canada
Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould François Girard
1995 Before the Rain Pred doždot Milcho Manchevski Macedonia, United Kingdom
The City of Lost Children La cité des enfants perdus Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet France
Exotica Atom Egoyan Canada
I Am Cuba Soy Cuba Mikhail Kalatozov Cuba, Soviet Union
Through the Olive Trees زیر درختان زیتون / Zīr-e Derakhtān-e Zeytūn Abbas Kiarostami Iran
1996 Secrets & Lies Mike Leigh United Kingdom
Breaking the Waves Lars von Trier Denmark
Chungking Express 重庆森林 / Chung Hing sam lam Wong Kar-wai Hong Kong
Lamerica Gianni Amelio Italy
Trainspotting Danny Boyle United Kingdom
1997 The Sweet Hereafter Atom Egoyan Canada
Happy Together 春光乍泄 / Chun gwong cha sit Wong Kar-wai Hong Kong
Mouth to Mouth Boca a boca Manuel Gómez Pereira Spain
Nenette and Boni Nénette et Boni Claire Denis France
Underground Podzemlje Emir Kusturica FR Yugoslavia, France, Germany
1998 The Celebration Festen Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
Central Station Central do Brasil Walter Salles Brazil
The Eel うなぎ / Unagi Shohei Imamura Japan
The General John Boorman Ireland, United Kingdom
Fireworks はなび / Hana-bi Takeshi Kitano Japan
1999 Run Lola Run Lola rennt Tom Tykwer Germany
All About My Mother Todo sobre mi madre Pedro Almodóvar Spain
My Son the Fanatic Udayan Prasad United Kingdom
Topsy-Turvy Mike Leigh
Rosetta Dardenne brothers Belgium, France

2000s

Year Film Original Title Director Country
2000 Dancer in the Dark Danser i mørket Lars von Trier Denmark
In the Mood for Love 花样年华 / Fa yeung nin wa Wong Kar-wai France, Hong Kong
Malli Santosh Sivan India
A Time for Drunken Horses زمانی برای مستی اسب‌ها / Zamani barayé masti asbha Bahman Ghobadi Iran
The War Zone Tim Roth United Kingdom
2001 Amélie Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Jean-Pierre Jeunet France
Amores perros Alejandro González Iñárritu Mexico
Lumumba Raoul Peck Belgium, France, Germany, Haiti
Sexy Beast Jonathan Glazer United Kingdom, Spain
Together Tillsammans Lukas Moodysson Sweden, Denmark, Italy
2002 Y Tu Mamá También Alfonso Cuarón Mexico
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner Atanarjuat Zacharias Kunuk Canada
Time Out L'emploi du temps Laurent Cantet France
The Piano Teacher La pianiste Michael Haneke
Bloody Sunday Paul Greengrass Ireland, United Kingdom
2003 Whale Rider Niki Caro New Zealand, Germany
City of God Cidade de Deus Fernando Meirelles Brazil
Lilya 4-Ever Lilja 4-ever Lukas Moodysson Denmark
The Magdalene Sisters Peter Mullan United Kingdom, Ireland
The Triplets of Belleville Les triplettes de Belleville Sylvain Chomet France, Canada, Belgium
2004 The Sea Inside Mar Adentro Alejandro Amenabar Spain
Oasis 오아시스 / Oasiseu Lee Chang-dong South Korea
Bad Education La mala educación Pedro Almodóvar Spain
Red Lights Feux rouges Cédric Kahn France
Yesterday Darrell Roodt South Africa
2005 Paradise Now Hany Abu-Assad Palestine, Netherlands, Germany, France
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu Moartea domnului Lazarescu Cristi Puiu Romania
Duck Season Temporada de patos Fernando Eimbcke Mexico
Head-On Gegen die Wand Fatih Akın Germany, Turkey
Tony Takitani トニー滝谷 / Tony Takitani Jun Ichikawa Japan
2006 The Lives of Others Das Leben der Anderen Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Germany
12:08 East of Bucharest A fost sau n-a fost? Corneliu Porumboiu Romania
The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros Ang pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros Auraeus Solito Philippines
Chronicle of an Escape Crónica de una fuga Israel Adrián Caetano Argentina
Days of Glory Indigènes Rachid Bouchareb France, Morocco, Algeria, Belgium, Japan
2007 Once John Carney Ireland
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days 4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zile Cristian Mungiu Romania
The Band's Visit ביקור התזמורת / Bikur Ha-Tizmoret Eran Kolirin France, Israel, United States
Persepolis Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud France
Lady Chatterley Pascale Ferran Belgium, France
2008 The Class Entre les murs Laurent Cantet France
Gomorrah Gomorra Matteo Garrone Italy
The Secret of the Grain La graine et le mulet Abdellatif Kechiche France
Hunger Steve McQueen Ireland, United Kingdom
Silent Light Stellet licht Carlos Reygadas France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico
2009 An Education Lone Scherfig United Kingdom
Everlasting Moments Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick Jan Troell Sweden
The Maid La nana Sebastián Silva Chile
Mother 마더 / Madeo Bong Joon-ho South Korea
A Prophet Un prophète Jacques Audiard France

2010s

Year Film Original Title Director Country
2010 The King's Speech Tom Hooper United Kingdom
Kisses Lance Daly Ireland
Mademoiselle Chambon Stéphane Brizé France
Of Gods and Men Des hommes et des dieux Xavier Beauvois Morocco,France
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives ลุงบุญมีระลึกชาติ / Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat Apichatpong Weerasethakul Thailand
2011 A Separation جدایی نادر از سیمین / Jodaí-e Nadér az Simín Asghar Farhadi Iran
The Kid with a Bike Le gamin au vélo Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Belgium
Shame Steve McQueen United Kingdom
Tyrannosaur Paddy Considine
Melancholia Lars von Trier Denmark
2012 Amour Michael Haneke Austria,France, Germany
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia Bir zamanlar Anadolu'da Nuri Bilge Ceylan Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rust and Bone De rouille et d'os Jacques Audiard France, Belgium
War Witch Rebelle Kim Nguyen Canada
Sister L'enfant d'en haut Ursula Meier France, Switzerland
2013 Blue Is the Warmest Colour La vie d'Adèle Abdellatif Kechiche France
Gloria Sebastian Lelio Chile
The Great Beauty La grande bellezza Paolo Sorrentino Italy
The Hunt Jagten Thomas Vinterberg Denmark
A Touch of Sin 天注定 / Tiān Zhùdìng Jia Zhangke China
2014 Ida Paweł Pawlikowski Poland
Force Majeure Turist Ruben Östlund Sweden
Leviathan Левиафан / Leviafan Andrey Zvyagintsev Russia
Mommy Xavier Dolan Canada
Norte, the End of History Norte, hangganan ng kasaysayan Lav Diaz Philippines
Under the Skin Jonathan Glazer United Kingdom
2015 Son of Saul Saul Fia László Nemes Hungary
Embrace of the Serpent El abrazo de la serpiente Ciro Guerra Colombia
Girlhood Bande de fillies Céline Sciamma France
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron Roy Andersson Sweden
Mustang Deniz Gamze Ergüven France, Turkey
2016 Toni Erdmann Maren Ade Germany, Romania
Aquarius Kleber Mendonça Filho Brazil
Chevalier Athina Rachel Tsangari Greece
My Golden Days Trois souvenirs de ma jeunesse Arnaud Desplechin France
Under the Shadow زیر سایه / Zeer-e sāye Babak Anvari Iran, United Kingdom
2017 A Fantastic Woman Una mujer fantástica Sebastián Lelio Chile
120 Beats Per Minute 120 battements par minute Robin Campillo France
I Am Not a Witch Rungano Nyoni United Kingdom
Lady Macbeth William Oldroyd
Loveless Нелюбовь / Nelyubov Andrey Zvyagintsev Russia
2018 Roma Alfonso Cuarón Mexico
Burning 버닝 / Beoning Lee Chang-dong South Korea
Happy as Lazzaro Lazzaro felice Alice Rohrwacher Italy
The Favourite Yorgos Lanthimos United Kingdom
Shoplifters 万引き家族 / Manbiki Kazoku Hirokazu Kore-eda Japan
2019 Parasite 기생충 / Gisaengchung Bong Joon-ho South Korea
The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão A Vida Invisível Karim Aïnouz Brazil
Les Misérables Ladj Ly France
Portrait of a Lady on Fire Portrait de la jeune fille en feu Céline Sciamma
Retablo Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio Peru
The Souvenir Joanna Hogg United Kingdom

2020s

Year Film Original Title Director Country
2020
 Quo Vadis, Aida? Jasmila Žbanić Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bacurau Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles Brazil
The Disciple Chaitanya Tamhane India
Night of the Kings La Nuit des rois Philippe Lacôte Ivory Coast
Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time Felkészülés meghatározatlan ideig tartó együttlétre Lili Horvát Hungary
2021
 Drive My Car ドライブ・マイ・カー / Doraibu mai kā Ryusuke Hamaguchi Japan
Compartment No. 6 Hytti nro 6 / Купе номер шесть Juho Kuosmanen Finland and Russia
Parallel Mothers Madres Paralelas Pedro Almodóvar Spain
Pebbles கூழாங்கல் / Koozhangal P.S. Vinothraj India
Petite Maman Céline Sciamma France
Prayers for the Stolen Noche de fuego Tatiana Huezo Mexico
2022
 Joyland Saim Sadiq Pakistan, United States
Corsage Marie Kreutzer Austria, Luxembourg, France, Italy, United Kingdom
Leonor Will Never Die Martika Ramirez Escobar Philippines
Return to Seoul Retour à Séoul Davy Chou South Korea, France, Belgium, Romania
Saint Omer Alice Diop France
2023
Anatomy of a Fall Anatomie d'une chute Justine Triet France
Godland Volaða land / Vanskabte Land Hlynur Pálmason Denmark, Iceland
Mami Wata C.J. Obasi Nigeria, France, United Kingdom
Tótem Lila Avilés Mexico, Denmark, France
The Zone of Interest Jonathan Glazer United Kingdom, Poland, United States