Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film

Annual US film award From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.

Presented byIndependent Spirit Awards
First awardKiss of the Spider Woman (1986)
Currently held byThe Secret Agent (2025)
Websitespiritawards.com
Quick facts Presented by, First award ...
Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film
Presented byIndependent Spirit Awards
First awardKiss of the Spider Woman (1986)
Currently held byThe Secret Agent (2025)
Websitespiritawards.com
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History

It was first presented in 1986, with Brazilian-American drama Kiss of the Spider Woman being the first recipient of the award.

In 2025, Flow marked the first time an animated film to win an Independent Spirit Award for any category.[1][2][3]

Winners and nominees

1980s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Original Title Director Country
1986 Kiss of the Spider WomanO Beijo da Mulher AranhaHéctor Babenco Brazil, United States
DreamchildGavin Millar United Kingdom
The HitStephen Frears
Ran乱Akira Kurosawa Japan
1987 A Room with a ViewJames Ivory United Kingdom
Men…Männer…Doris Dörrie West Germany
28 UpMichael Apted United Kingdom
Mona LisaNeil Jordan
My Beautiful LaundretteStephen Frears
1988 My Life as a DogMitt liv som hundLasse Hallström Sweden
Au revoir les enfantsLouis Malle France, West Germany
Hope and GloryJohn Boorman United Kingdom
Prick Up Your EarsStephen Frears
TampopoタンポポJuzo Itami Japan
1989 Wings of DesireDer Himmel über BerlinWim Wenders West Germany
The Kitchen TotoHarry Hook United Kingdom
Bagdad CaféPercy Adlon West Germany
A World ApartChris Menges United Kingdom, Zimbabwe
YeelenSouleymane Cissé Mali
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1990s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Original Title Director Country
1990 My Left FootJim Sheridan Ireland, United Kingdom
HanussenIstván Szabó Hungary
Distant Voices, Still LivesTerence Davies United Kingdom
High HopesMike Leigh
Rouge胭脂扣Stanley Kwan Hong Kong
1991 SweetieJane Campion Australia
Black Rain黒い雨Shohei Imamura Japan
A City of Sadness悲情城市Hou Hsiao-hsien Taiwan
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her LoverPeter Greenaway France, United Kingdom
Freeze Die Come to LifeЗамри, умри, воскресниVitali Kanevsky Soviet Union
1992 An Angel at My TableJane Campion New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia
The Double Life of VéroniqueLa double vie de VéroniqueKrzysztof Kieślowski France, Poland
Life is SweetMike Leigh United Kingdom
Requiem for DominicRequiem für DominikRobert Dornhelm Austria, France, Romania
Taxi BluesТакси-блюзPavel Lungin Soviet Union
1993 The Crying GameNeil Jordan United Kingdom
Close to EdenУргаNikita Mikhalkov Soviet Union
DanzonMaria Novaro Mexico, Spain
Howards EndJames Ivory United Kingdom
Raise the Red Lantern大红灯笼高高挂Zhang Yimou China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
1994 The PianoJane Campion Australia
NakedMike Leigh United Kingdom
OrlandoSally Potter
Like Water for ChocolateComo agua para chocolateAlfonso Arau Mexico
The Story of Qiu Ju秋菊打官司Zhang Yimou China, Hong Kong
1995 Three Colors: RedTrois couleurs: RougeKrzysztof Kieślowski France, Poland
The Blue Kite蓝风筝Tian Zhuangzhuang China, Hong Kong
Ladybird, LadybirdKen Loach United Kingdom
The Boys of St. VincentJohn N. Smith Canada
Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn GouldFrançois Girard
1996 Before the RainPred doždotMilcho Manchevski Macedonia, United Kingdom
The City of Lost ChildrenLa cité des enfants perdusMarc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet France
ExoticaAtom Egoyan Canada
I Am Cuba (1964)Soy CubaMikhail Kalatozov Cuba, Soviet Union
Through the Olive Treesزیر درختان زیتونAbbas Kiarostami Iran
1997 Secrets & LiesMike Leigh United Kingdom
Breaking the WavesLars von Trier Denmark
Chungking Express重庆森林Wong Kar-wai Hong Kong
LamericaGianni Amelio Italy
TrainspottingDanny Boyle United Kingdom
1998 The Sweet HereafterAtom Egoyan Canada
Happy Together春光乍泄Wong Kar-wai Hong Kong
Mouth to MouthBoca a bocaManuel Gómez Pereira Spain
Nenette and BoniNénette et BoniClaire Denis France
UndergroundPodzemljeEmir Kusturica FR Yugoslavia, France, Germany
1999 The CelebrationFestenThomas Vinterberg Denmark
Central StationCentral do BrasilWalter Salles Brazil
The EelうなぎShohei Imamura Japan
The GeneralJohn Boorman Ireland, United Kingdom
FireworksはなびTakeshi Kitano Japan
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2000s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Original Title Director Country
2000 Run Lola RunLola renntTom Tykwer Germany
All About My MotherTodo sobre mi madrePedro Almodóvar Spain
My Son the FanaticUdayan Prasad United Kingdom
Topsy-TurvyMike Leigh
RosettaDardenne brothers Belgium, France
2001 Dancer in the DarkDanser i mørketLars von Trier Denmark
In the Mood for Love花样年华Wong Kar-wai France, Hong Kong
MalliSantosh Sivan India
A Time for Drunken Horsesزمانی برای مستی اسب‌هاBahman Ghobadi Iran
The War ZoneTim Roth United Kingdom
2002 AmélieLe fabuleux destin d'Amélie PoulainJean-Pierre Jeunet France
Amores perrosAlejandro González Iñárritu Mexico
LumumbaRaoul Peck Belgium, France, Germany, Haiti
Sexy BeastJonathan Glazer United Kingdom, Spain
TogetherTillsammansLukas Moodysson Sweden, Denmark, Italy
2003 Y Tu Mamá TambiénAlfonso Cuarón Mexico
Atanarjuat: The Fast RunnerAtanarjuatZacharias Kunuk Canada
Time OutL'emploi du tempsLaurent Cantet France
The Piano TeacherLa pianisteMichael Haneke
Bloody SundayPaul Greengrass Ireland, United Kingdom
2004 Whale RiderNiki Caro New Zealand, Germany
City of GodCidade de DeusFernando Meirelles Brazil
Lilya 4-EverLilja 4-everLukas Moodysson Denmark
The Magdalene SistersPeter Mullan United Kingdom, Ireland
The Triplets of BellevilleLes triplettes de BellevilleSylvain Chomet France, Canada, Belgium
2005 The Sea InsideMar AdentroAlejandro Amenabar Spain
Oasis오아시스Lee Chang-dong South Korea
Bad EducationLa mala educaciónPedro Almodóvar Spain
Red LightsFeux rougesCédric Kahn France
YesterdayDarrell Roodt South Africa
2006 Paradise NowHany Abu-Assad Palestine, Netherlands, Germany, France
The Death of Mr. LazarescuMoartea domnului LazarescuCristi Puiu Romania
Duck SeasonTemporada de patosFernando Eimbcke Mexico
Head-OnGegen die WandFatih Akın Germany, Turkey
Tony Takitaniトニー滝谷Jun Ichikawa Japan
2007 The Lives of OthersDas Leben der AnderenFlorian Henckel von Donnersmarck Germany
12:08 East of BucharestA fost sau n-a fost?Corneliu Porumboiu Romania
The Blossoming of Maximo OliverosAng pagdadalaga ni Maximo OliverosAuraeus Solito Philippines
Chronicle of an EscapeCrónica de una fugaIsrael Adrián Caetano Argentina
Days of GloryIndigènesRachid Bouchareb France, Morocco, Algeria, Belgium, Japan
2008 OnceJohn Carney Ireland
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days4 luni, 3 săptămâni şi 2 zileCristian Mungiu Romania
The Band's Visitביקור התזמורתEran Kolirin France, Israel, United States
PersepolisMarjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud France
Lady ChatterleyPascale Ferran Belgium, France
2009 The ClassEntre les mursLaurent Cantet France
GomorrahGomorraMatteo Garrone Italy
The Secret of the GrainLa graine et le muletAbdellatif Kechiche France
HungerSteve McQueen Ireland, United Kingdom
Silent LightStellet lichtCarlos Reygadas France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico
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2010s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Original Title Director Country
2010 An EducationLone Scherfig United Kingdom
Everlasting MomentsMaria Larssons eviga ögonblickJan Troell Sweden
The MaidLa nanaSebastián Silva Chile
Mother마더Bong Joon-ho South Korea
A ProphetUn prophèteJacques Audiard France
2011 The King's SpeechTom Hooper United Kingdom, United States
KissesLance Daly Ireland
Mademoiselle ChambonStéphane Brizé France
Of Gods and MenDes hommes et des dieuxXavier Beauvois Morocco, France
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past LivesลุงบุญมีระลึกชาติApichatpong Weerasethakul Thailand
2012 A Separationجدایی نادر از سیمینAsghar Farhadi Iran
The Kid with a BikeLe gamin au véloJean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Belgium
ShameSteve McQueen United Kingdom
TyrannosaurPaddy Considine
MelancholiaLars von Trier Denmark
2013 AmourMichael Haneke Austria, France, Germany
Once Upon a Time in AnatoliaBir zamanlar Anadolu'daNuri Bilge Ceylan Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rust and BoneDe rouille et d'osJacques Audiard France, Belgium
War WitchRebelleKim Nguyen Canada
SisterL'enfant d'en hautUrsula Meier France,  Switzerland
2014 Blue Is the Warmest ColourLa vie d'AdèleAbdellatif Kechiche France
GloriaSebastian Lelio Chile
The Great BeautyLa grande bellezzaPaolo Sorrentino Italy
The HuntJagtenThomas Vinterberg Denmark
A Touch of Sin天注定Jia Zhangke China
2015 IdaPaweł Pawlikowski Poland
Force MajeureTuristRuben Östlund Sweden
LeviathanЛевиафанAndrey Zvyagintsev Russia
MommyXavier Dolan Canada
Norte, the End of HistoryNorte, hangganan ng kasaysayanLav Diaz Philippines
Under the SkinJonathan Glazer United Kingdom
2016[4] Son of SaulSaul FiaLászló Nemes Hungary
Embrace of the SerpentEl abrazo de la serpienteCiro Guerra Colombia
GirlhoodBande de filliesCéline Sciamma France
A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on ExistenceEn duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaronRoy Andersson Sweden
MustangDeniz Gamze Ergüven France, Turkey
2017[5] Toni ErdmannMaren Ade Germany, Romania
AquariusKleber Mendonça Filho Brazil
ChevalierAthina Rachel Tsangari Greece
My Golden DaysTrois souvenirs de ma jeunesseArnaud Desplechin France
Under the Shadowزیر سایهBabak Anvari Iran, United Kingdom
2018[6] A Fantastic WomanUna mujer fantásticaSebastián Lelio Chile
120 Beats Per Minute120 battements par minuteRobin Campillo France
I Am Not a WitchRungano Nyoni United Kingdom
Lady MacbethWilliam Oldroyd
LovelessНелюбовьAndrey Zvyagintsev Russia
2019 RomaAlfonso Cuarón Mexico
Burning 버닝 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 Hirokazu Kore-eda Japan
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2020s

More information Year, Film ...
Year Film Original Title Director Country
2020 Parasite기생충Bong Joon-ho South Korea
The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão A Vida Invisível de Eurídice Gusmão 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
2021
[7]		 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
2022
[8]		 Drive My Car ドライブ・マイ・カー 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 P.S. Vinothraj India
Petite Maman Céline Sciamma France
Prayers for the Stolen Noche de fuego Tatiana Huezo Mexico
2023
[9]		 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
2024
[10]		 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
2025
[11]		 Flow Straume Gints Zilbalodis Latvia, France, Belgium
All We Imagine as Light Payal Kapadia France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg
Black Dog 狗阵 Guan Hu China
Green Border Zielona granica Agnieszka Holland Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium
Hard Truths Mike Leigh United Kingdom, Spain
2026
 The Secret Agent O Agente Secreto Kleber Mendonça Filho Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands
All That's Left of You اللي باقي منك Cherien Dabis Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Rungano Nyoni Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia
A Poet Un poeta Simón Mesa Soto Colombia, Germany, Sweden
Sirāt Oliver Laxe Spain, France
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Multiple winners

Only 2 directors have won the award multiple times.

More information Wins, Director ...
Wins Director
3 Australia Jane Campion
2 Mexico Alfonso Cuarón
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References

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