, ▁popular ▁songs , ▁irre ver ent ▁hum our , ▁strong ▁colours , ▁and ▁gl oss y ▁dé cor . ▁Des ire , ▁passion , ▁family , ▁and ▁identity ▁are ▁among ▁Al mod ó var ' s ▁most ▁pre val ent ▁them es . ▁▁ ▁Acc laimed ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁intern ation ally ▁successful ▁Spanish ▁film m akers , ▁Al mod ó var ▁and ▁his ▁films ▁have ▁gained ▁world wide ▁interest ▁and ▁developed ▁a ▁cult ▁following . ▁He ▁has ▁won ▁two ▁Academy ▁Awards , ▁five ▁British ▁Academy ▁Film ▁Awards , ▁six ▁European ▁Film ▁Awards , ▁two ▁Golden ▁Glo be ▁Awards , ▁nine ▁Go ya ▁Awards ▁and ▁four ▁pri zes ▁at ▁the ▁C annes ▁Film ▁Festival . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁Al mod ó var ▁received ▁the ▁French ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Hon our , ▁followed ▁by ▁the ▁Gold ▁Medal ▁of ▁Mer it ▁in ▁the ▁Fine ▁Arts ▁by ▁the ▁Spanish ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Culture ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁a ▁Foreign ▁Honor ary ▁Member ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Academy ▁of ▁Arts ▁and ▁Sciences ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁and ▁received ▁an ▁honor ary ▁doctor al ▁degree ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁from ▁Harvard ▁University ▁in ▁addition ▁to ▁an ▁honor ary ▁doctor al ▁degree ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Oxford ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁for ▁his ▁contribution ▁to ▁the ▁arts . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁he ▁received ▁an ▁honor ary ▁European ▁Film ▁Academy ▁Ach iev ement ▁in ▁World ▁Cinema ▁Award .