Vatican Presents Its First Oscar Contender

(ZENIT News, Vatican City, 09.28.2026).-The Vatican, through the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, has co-produced a 39-minute documentary that is being submitted for the Oscars in the Best Short Documentary category.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites in the Italian Alps, the film offers a moving reflection on independence, the human spirit, and the transformative power of a community in the face of adversity.

Directed by Lia Beltrami and Ali Aksu, the film is titled Green Lava. It premiered in January 2026 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome, a center for higher education dedicated to theological and patristic research and teaching.

The film portrays the life of Giacomo Mattivi and his health condition, specifically, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which causes progressive muscle weakness, starting in the hips and legs and eventually affecting the head. It leads to frequent falls and difficulty walking, running, or climbing stairs.

Giacomo Mattivi’s story explores life without his brother Mattia, who passed away from the same condition: Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The documentary’s synopsis adds that, «defying societal expectations, Giacomo confronts the limitations imposed by his illness and finds strength in his community and the surrounding nature.»

The film was screened from Friday, September 18, to Thursday, September 24, at the Lumière Music Hall in Beverly Hills. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will decide whether the film receives a nomination in its category.

«Only those who wear glasses understand how hard it is to see through lenses fogged up by emotion,» Giacomo said while remembering his older brother, Mattia.

Following the private premiere screening in January, Giacomo spoke about the significance of filming a part of his life and his meeting with Pope Francis: «The meeting with Pope Francis was very meaningful, though it wasn’t the first. I had previously asked Pope Francis if I could send more of my poems, and he responded positively with a hand gesture. It was very moving to realize that he actually remembered me.»

Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, stated that the production took ten months to complete and that «Giacomo’s story deserves to be known by everyone. That is why we are delighted to have the opportunity to include Green Lava in the process of submitting it for Oscar consideration.»

To meet the requirements for the U.S. competition, the film scheduled a theatrical run at the Lumière Music Hall in Beverly Hills. Following its theatrical release, the production team will complete the necessary steps to submit it for Oscar consideration.

Unlike the Best International Feature Film category, short films do not require an official nomination or the backing of a national government or a specific country committee.