the director federico fellini was stronger than his american peers at his first nomination and , among other foreigners , had not been nominated for his earlier masterworks , " ala strada " and " dreams of cabiria " , though both films had won the favourite foreign - language picture in 1956 and 1957 , respectively . fellini later received an executive oscar in 1993 , and was basically a punitive gesture .
An Italian director is awarded an honorary Oscar.