Best Features
The following list mentions the year of selection of the German films submitted for the Academy Award (OSCAR) for Best Foreign Language Film. Films nominated by the Academy are marked (*) and films which then received an OSCAR are marked (**). The OSCAR Awards Ceremony always takes place in the following year.
- 1956: * Hauptmann von Koepenick, Der / Captain of Koepenick, The by Helmut Kaeutner
- 1957: * Nachts, wenn der Teufel kam / Devil Strikes at Night, The by Robert Siodmak
- 1958: * Helden / Arms and the Man by Franz Peter Wirth
- 1959: * Bruecke, Die / Bridge, The by Bernhard Wicki
- 1960: Faust by Peter Gorski
- 1961: Wunder des Malachias, Das / Miracle of Malachias by Bernhard Wicki
- 1965: Es / It by Ulrich Schamoni
- 1966: junge Toerless, Der / Young Toerless by Volker Schloendorff
- 1967: Taetowierung by Johannes Schaaf
- 1968: Artisten in der Zirkuskuppel: ratlos, Die / Artists Under The Big Top: Perplexed, The by Alexander Kluge
- 1969: Jagdszenen aus Niederbayern / Hunting Scenes from Bavaria by Peter Fleischmann
- 1970: O.K. by Michael Verhoeven
- 1971: Schloss, Das / Castle, The by Rudolf Noelte
- 1972: Trotta by Johannes Schaaf
- 1973: Fussgaenger, Der / Pedestrian, The by Maximilian Schell
- 1973: Dritte, Der / Third, The by Egon Guenther
- 1974: Einer von uns beiden / One or the Other by Wolfgang Petersen
- 1975: Jeder fuer sich und Gott gegen alle / Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, The: Every Man for Himself and God Against All by Werner Herzog
- 1976: Ansichten eines Clowns / Clown, The by Jasny Vojtech
- 1976: * Jakob, der Luegner / Jakob The Liar by Frank Beyer
- 1977: amerikanische Freund, Der / American Friend, The by Wim Wenders
- 1977: Mama, ich lebe / Mama, I'm Alive by Konrad Wolf
- 1978: * glaeserne zelle, Die / Glass Cell, The by Hans W. Geissendoerfer
- 1979: ** Blechtrommel, Die / Tin Drum, The by Volker Schloendorff
- 1980: Fabian by Wolf Gremm
- 1980: Verlobte, Die / Fiancée, The by Guenter Reisch, Guenther Ruecker
- 1981: Lili Marleen by Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- 1982: Fitzcarraldo by Werner Herzog
- 1983: * Boot, Das / Boat, The by Wolfgang Petersen
- 1983: Aufenthalt, Der / Turning Point, The by Frank Beyer
- 1983: flambierte Frau, Die / Woman in Flames, A by Robert van Ackeren
- 1984: Morgen in Alabama / Man Under Suspicion by Norbert Kueckelmann
- 1985: * Bittere Ernte / Angry Harvest by Agnieszka Holland
- 1986: Maenner / Men by Doris Doerrie
- 1987: Himmel ueber Berlin, Der / Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders
- 1988: Yasemin by Hark Bohm
- 1989: Spinnennetz, Das / Spider's Web by Bernhard Wicki
- 1990: * schreckliche Maedchen, Das / Nasty Girl, The by Michael Verhoeven
- 1992: * Schtonk! by Helmut Dietl
- 1993: Justiz / Justice by Hans W. Geissendoerfer
- 1994: Versprechen, Das / Promise, The by Margarethe von Trotta
- 1995: Schlafes Bruder / Brother of Sleep by Joseph Vilsmaier
- 1996: Totmacher, Der / Deathmaker, The by Romuald Karmakar
- 1997: * Jenseits der Stille / Beyond Silence by Caroline Link
- 1998: Lola rennt / Run Lola Run by Tom Tykwer
- 1999: Aimée & Jaguar by Max Faerberboeck
- 2000: Unberuehrbare, Die / No Place To Go by Oskar Roehler
- 2001: Experiment, Das / Experiment, The by Oliver Hirschbiegel
- 2002: ** Nirgendwo in Afrika / Nowhere In Africa by Caroline Link
- 2003: Good Bye, Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker
- 2004: * Untergang, Der / Downfall by Oliver Hirschbiegel
- 2005: * Sophie Scholl - Die letzten Tage / Sophie Scholl – The Final Days by Marc Rothemund
- 2006: ** Leben der Anderen, Das / Lives of Others, The by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- 2007: Auf der anderen Seite / Edge of Heaven, The by Fatih Akin
- 2008: * Baader Meinhof Komplex, Der / Baader Meinhof Complex, The by Uli Edel