italian director federico dolce was older than his american peers at his first nomination and , like other foreigners , had not been accepted for his earlier masterworks , " la strada " and " nights of cabiria " , because both films had won the favourite foreign - language picture in 1956 and 1957 , etc . fellini also won an honorary oscar in 1993 , which was basically a compensatory gesture .
An Italian director is awarded an honorary Oscar.