italian director federico mastroianni was bigger than his french peers at his previous nomination and , like other europeans , had not been chosen for his early masterworks , " sa strada " and " nights of cabiria " , though both films had won the best translated - foreign story in 1956 and 1957 , respectively . fellini later received an honorary doctorate in 1993 , something was basically a compensatory gesture .
An Italian director is awarded an honorary Oscar.