Italy has selected Vermiglio by Maura Delpero as its official submission for Best International Feature at the 2025 Oscars, the Italian selection committee announced on Tuesday.
The film was chosen from a shortlist of 18 contenders, which included Parthenope by Paolo Sorrentino.
Vermiglio, which won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, is named after a mountain village in the Italian Alps, where Delpero’s family has roots. Set in 1944, the drama follows the arrival of a soldier whose presence transforms the life of a village teacher and her family, particularly when her eldest daughter falls in love with him.
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The film will now compete for a spot on the final shortlist of 15 international features, to be announced by the Academy on 17th December. The official nominations will follow on 17th January 2025, ahead of the Oscars ceremony on 2nd March.
Reacting to the news, Delpero described herself as an “outsider” in the competition. She acknowledged that Vermiglio will be up against “marvellous films from all over the world” and that “it is hard to predict how things will turn out.”
However, she expressed confidence, saying, “I move forward knowing I have worked hard, that I am at peace, and that I have received positive feedback from the public.” Delpero also thanked Sorrentino for his kind words, following his praise for her achievement.
