# Vatican submits documentary short to the Oscars

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vatican-oscar-documentary-submission
> Updated: 2026-09-26T19:11:25.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 3.

The Vatican has officially submitted its first-ever film for Academy Award consideration. The 39-minute documentary short, ‘Green Lava’, is being entered for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Short Film category.

Directed by Lia Beltrami and Ali Aksu, the film follows Giacomo Mattivi, a young man living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the Dolomites. The narrative depicts Mattivi navigating life following the death of his brother, Mattia, who suffered from the same condition, while finding strength in his community and the natural landscape. 

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

To meet Academy requirements, the film was screened at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills. Unlike the International Feature Film category, the submission of a short film does not require official endorsement from a national government or committee.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-26: Vatican submits documentary short to the Oscars for the first time

The Vatican has submitted the documentary short ‘Green Lava’ for Oscar consideration, marking the first time a Vatican production has entered the Academy Awards competition.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-submits-documentary-short-to-the-oscars-for-the-first-time

### 2026-09-24: Vatican to submit first film for Oscar consideration

The Vatican will submit its first film, “Green Lava,” for Oscar consideration, while Belluno hosts an exhibition of Amelia Blanford Edwards’ 19th-century Dolomite watercolors.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-to-submit-first-film-for-oscar-consideration

### 2026-09-16: Vatican documentary ‘Green Lava’ to seek first-ever Oscar consideration

The Vatican will submit the documentary short ‘Green Lava’ for Oscar consideration, marking the first time a Vatican-produced film has entered the Academy Awards race.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vatican-city-to-submit-documentary-for-oscar-consideration

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Cite as: Vatican submits documentary short to the Oscars. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vatican-oscar-documentary-submission