Vatican to Submit a Film to the Oscars For the First Time in 97 Years

According to exclusive information from Variety, the Vatican will submit a film for Oscar consideration for the first time in the Academy's history. The selected film is Green Lava, a short documentary that follows Giacomo Mattivi, a young Italian man living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Directed by Lia Beltrami and Ali Aksu, the film shows Giacomo facing life after the death of his brother Mattia, who had the same illness. He defies the limitations imposed by his condition and finds strength in the community and nature around him. The 39-minute short film, set in the Dolomites, is described as a meditation on independence, the human spirit, and the transformative power of community in the face of adversity.

The production is by Emotions to Generate Change, Beltrami's company, in collaboration with Vatican News  Vatican Radio, and Vatican Media. The film will be screened in Los Angeles from September 18 to 24 at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. After this run, the team will begin the process of submitting it to the Academy in the Best Documentary Short Subject category.

The entry does not officially represent the Vatican in the race, as short films do not require nomination by a government or national committee. Still, it marks the first time a Vatican production has been in the running for an Oscar.

Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, stated that Giacomo's story "deserves to be known by everyone" and described the film as "a celebration of life and friendship." According to him, the work "teaches us the richness that the lives of people marked by illness can witness and offer, as well as the vitality they bring to the relationships around them."

Beltrami said that he lives in the same village as Giacomo and his family. "The people who live in the Dolomites are very special; they take care of their families and their communities. It's beautiful to see that the community has come together around Giacomo, treating him with kindness and inclusion. I hope the world sees this film and is inspired to be like the people of the mountains."