Italy has selected Francesco Costabile’s drama Familia as its candidate for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The biographical drama, co-written by Costabile, Vittorio Moroni and Andriano Chiarelli, is based on Luigi Celeste’s memoir Non sarà sempre così about his youth as a far-right militant, living in the shadow of domestic violence, with a criminal father.
The drama world premiered in the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti sidebar in 2024.
The selection process overseen by Italian film body Anica involved 24 films submissions this year, which also included Gianfranco Rosi’s Below the Clouds, Pietro Marcello’s Duse, and Leonardo Di Costanzo’s psychological drama Elisa.
The committee consisted of Italian film professionals Micaela Fusco, Alessandra Magliaro, Gabriele Muccino, Olivia Musini, Simona Paggi, Federico Pontiggia, Micaela Ramazzotti, Stefano Sardo, and Vito Sinopoli.
Italy’s last submission was Maura Delpero’s World War Two drama Vermiglio, which was selected after winning the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize in Venice in 2024 and then made it as far as the shortlist.
The country last won the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2014 with The Great Beauty by Paolo Sorrentino. His latest film, the Venice Film Festival opener La Grazia, was not submitted to be Italy’s 2026 entry.
That film is scheduled for release next year, which is outside the required local release period – running from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 – to be eligible for submission to the 2026 awards.
The cast of Familia features Francesco Gheghi, Barbara Ronchi and Francesco Di Leva, who Italy’s won a David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film.
The film is lead produced by Attilio de Razza and Nicola Picone at Rome-based Tramp Limited, with coproducers Nicola Giuliano at Rome’s Indigo Film and Pierpaolo Verga at Naples’ O’Groove, and in association with Medusa Film.
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