There are several Spanish directors who have made excellent films, among them Alejandro Amenábar - a Chilean who became a Spanish citizen - who directed Thesis - his first film - in 1996, which you rightly mention and which won many awards, deservedly so.

If you remember the characters you will find Ana Torrent, the same one who played one of the girls in this review.

From Amenábar I really liked Mar Adentro with a phenomenal Javier Bardem.

Greetings and thanks for commenting.