Top photo caption: The Dolomite mountains are seen at the sunset in Alta Badia, Italy, December 18, 2017. OSV News photo/Stefano Rellandini, Reuters
By John Mulderig, OSV News
OSV News — In 1947, the Academy Awards began recognizing what were then called foreign language films on an annual basis. Over the decades since, movies from many nations have been submitted for voter consideration in a variety of categories.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, no such picture ever came from the Vatican City State. That, however, is about to change.
Following its Sept. 18-24 qualifying run at Los Angeles’ Lumiere Music Hall, filmmakers Lia Beltrami and Ali Mahir Aksu’s “Green Lava” will compete for an Oscar nod as 2026’s Best Documentary Short Film. Vatican Media, Radio Vatican and Vatican News all collaborated on the production of the roughly 40-minute movie.
“Green Lava,” which premiered in Rome on Jan. 25 of last year, profiles Giacomo Mattivi, a 22-year-old Northern Italian man living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Set against the majestic background of the Dolomite mountains, the film seeks to bear witness to the courage and indefatigable energy with which Mattivi approaches his challenging situation.
A university student, a soccer fan and the entrepreneurial manager of a small egg-selling business, Mattivi seems in no danger of becoming bored. Nor, apparently, does he allow being in a wheelchair and on a ventilator to slow him down or discourage him.
In this vein, the picture’s unusual title refers to Mattivi’s belief — stated in the trailer — that, “Humans must be live lava so as not to petrify.” Despite having lost Giacomo’s older brother Mattia to the same disease from which he suffers in 2022, Giacomo’s parents, Stefano and Lara, are equally vigorous in their effort to promote acceptance and inclusion among the young.
Oscar nominations will be announced on Jan. 21, 2027. The Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood the following March 14.
John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on Twitter @JohnMulderig1.
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