Almodovar and BAFTA’s respect for international directors

Here’s the brand new trailer for Pedro Almodovar’s Los Amantes Pasajeros. (thanks to Jesus Alonso)

The question came up on Twitter yesterday, What if Michael Haneke Won the BAFTA for Bes Director. Made me curious to see how often the BAFTA have awarded international directors (directors who aren’t from the UK or US or Aus whose native language isn’t English). The Oscars have only done so 6 times since 1970

1975 – Miloš Forman – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
1984 – Miloš Forman – Amadeus
1987 – Bernardo Bertolucci – The Last Emperor
2002 – Roman Polanski – The Pianist
2005 – Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain
2011 – Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist

The BAFTAs are much more open to honoring international directors. Twice as frequently as the Oscars, 12 times since 1970 (roughly 29% of the time). BAFTA’s impressive list of International Directors, after the cut.

1973 – François Truffaut – Day for Night
1974 – Roman Polanski – Chinatown
1976 – Milos Forman – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
1980 – Akira Kurosawa – Kagemusha
1981 – Louis Malle – Atlantic City
1984 – Wim Wenders – Paris, Texas
1988 – Louis Malle – Au revoir, les enfants
1999 – Pedro Almodóvar – Todo sobre mi madre
2000 – Ang Lee – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2002 – Roman Polanski – The Pianist
2005 – Ang Lee – Brokeback Mountain
2011 – Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist