Academy Awards – Shortlists Announcement (December 16, 2025)

December 16 marks one of the most anticipated milestones on the road to the Academy Awards: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will unveil the official shortlists, narrowing the field of contenders in key categories ahead of the final nominations. It is a moment of great attention for the international industry, as it determines which titles continue their journey toward the coveted statuette and highlights the filmmakers, storytellers, and productions that have distinguished themselves on the global stage.

For Italy, particular focus is on Familia, the film selected by ANICA (the National Association of the Cinematographic, Audiovisual and Multimedia Industries) to represent the country in the International Feature Film category.

The work has already garnered significant interest across international festival circuits, underscoring the vitality and quality of Italian auteur cinema. The shortlist announcement will mark a crucial step in its path toward a possible final nomination.

Alongside the race for International Feature Film, Italy is present in multiple categories this year thanks to a slate of works that reflect the richness of the country’s contemporary audiovisual landscape:

• Playing God – an animated short that has earned recognition at major festivals, noted for its strong visual and creative identity. Directed by Matteo Burani and produced by Arianna Gheller, the film won the Best Animated Short award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
• Majoneze – a live-action short that brings new authorial voices and a contemporary narrative approach to the screen. Directed by Giulia Grandinetti and winner of the Grand Jury Prize – Live Action Short at AFI FEST 2025 in Los Angeles. Produced by Lupin Film.

• Below the Clouds by Gianfranco Rosi – a documentary reaffirming the director’s artistic stature and his ability to portray reality with depth and perspective

From animation to live action, from documentary to major auteur cinema, the Italian presence across key categories reflects a creative ecosystem that continues to evolve, experiment, and engage with new languages and international collaborations.

These works highlight a period of strong momentum for Italian cinema, defined by a plurality of voices, cross-border partnerships, and experimentation across formats—from feature films to short form, animation, and documentary.

The Italy Meets Hollywood website includes a dedicated section featuring interviews and insights with Italian filmmakers and producers behind the titles in contention this awards season. Visit the section here for more.