Italy Chooses "Familia" as Its Oscar Candidate

Italy has chosen Francesco Costabile’s dark melodrama “Familia” as its candidate for the Best International Feature Film category of the 2026 Academy Awards.

“Familia,” which weaves together elements of psychological thriller and social commentary and launched at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, was a somewhat surprising choice. 

Several other candidates among the 24 titles in the running to be designated made their debut in competition at Venice this year, including Gianfranco Rosi’s doc “Below the Clouds,” which won the Special Jury Prize at Venice. Other submissions in the running that recently launched in competition from the Lido and were considered frontrunners included Pietro Marcello’s “Duse,” starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as legendary actress Eleonora Duse, and Leonardo Di Costanzo’s psychological drama “Elisa.”

Paolo Sorrentino’s Venice opener “La Grazia” was not on the list due to its scheduled early 2026 release date.

“Familia” follows the harrowing journey of Luigi, a young man grappling with a toxic family legacy and his entanglement with extremist ideologies. Based on Luigi Celeste’s autobiographical book “It Won’t Be Like This Forever,” the story delves into the destructive cycles of violence and the struggle for redemption.

“Familia” launched in 2024 from the Venice’s Horizons strand and won the section’s prize for best actor which went to Francesco Gheghi. 

The film’s cast also comprises Barbara Ronchi (“Kidnapped” by Marco Bellochio), and Francesco Di Leva (“Nostalgia” by Mario Martone).

Costabile previously garnered critical acclaim for his debut feature “Una Femmina — The Code of Silence” about women who’ve dared to break away from the grip of the Calabrian mob’s blood ties and codes.

“Familia” is produced by Attilio de Razza and Nicola Picone at Rome-based Tramp Limited. The co-producers are Nicola Giuliano at Rome’s Indigo Film and Pierpaolo Verga at Naples’ O’Groove, and in association with Medusa Film.

AMPAS will unveil the 15 films shortlisted in the international feature film category on December 16.