Vatican submits documentary short to the Oscars for the first time

The Vatican has submitted a production for Oscar consideration for the first time in its history. The 39-minute documentary short, titled ‘Green Lava’, is being entered for consideration for the 99th Academy Awards.

Directed by Lia Beltrami and Ali Aksu, the film follows the story of Giacomo Mattivi, an Italian youth living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The documentary depicts his journey of navigating life following the death of his brother, Mattia, who suffered from the same condition, while finding strength in his community and the natural landscapes of the Dolomites.

The project is a collaboration between Emotions to Generate Change, Vatican News, Vatican Radio, and Vatican Media. Paolo Ruffini, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, stated that the story of Giacomo deserves to be known by everyone.

Unlike the International Feature Film category, short films do not require official endorsement from a national government or committee. The production was recently screened at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills.