Familia, by former CSC student Francesco Costabile, has been selected as the film to represent Italy at the Academy Awards®️. The Selection Committee for the Italian entry to the Oscars®️, set up by ANICA on behalf of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®️ and convened before a notary, was composed of Micaela Fusco, Alessandra Magliaro, Gabriele Muccino, Olivia Musini, Simona Paggi, Federico Pontiggia, Micaela Ramazzotti, Stefano Sardo and Vito Sinopoli.

Familia will compete for the shortlist that will include the fifteen best international films selected by the Academy®️, to be announced on 16 December 2025.

The announcement of the nominations (the five films shortlisted to compete for the award) is scheduled for 22 January 2026, while the Oscar®️ ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on 15 March 2026.

Alongside Francesco Costabile, the crew also includes other former students of the Centro Sperimentale: Adriano Chiarelli (co-screenwriter), Giuseppe Maio (DoP), Stefano Massa (DIT), Danilo Pitrelli (focus puller), Gianluca Costamagna (sound mixer), Federico Cabula (sound editor), Andrea Oppo (boom operator), Eleonora Medolla (assistant costume designer).

Francesco Costabile was born in Cosenza in 1980 and studied at DAMS in Bologna. He graduated in Directing from the CSC – National Film School, where he made several shorts including Dentro Roma, which won the Nastro d’Argento for Best Short Film. He collaborated with Gianni Amelio and made two documentaries on master Piero Tosi. His feature debut came in 2022 with Una femmina, inspired by Lirio Abbate’s book Fimmine ribelli; presented at the Berlinale, the film received two David di Donatello nominations and two Nastro d’Argento nominations. In 2024 he made his second feature, Familia, presented at the Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale (Orizzonti section) and inspired by the true story of Luigi Celeste; the film won the Best Actor Award in Orizzonti (awarded to Francesco Gheghi), two Nastri d’Argento and a David di Donatello. The film also received other important mentions and awards, including the Nuovo Imaie Talent Award for Best Debut Actress, Tecla Insolia, and a special recognition from Cinema For UNICEF.