Italy has selected Vermiglio to represent it in the Best International Feature Film category of the 97th Academy Awards.
The second feature from Maura Delpero, Vermiglio premiered In Competition at the Venice Film Festival, winning the jury award.
The picture takes its title from a mountain village in the Italian Alps, which was home to the director’s family for generations.
The drama opens in the village in 1944. Largely cut off from the war across Europe, the arrival of a deserted soldier will disrupt the life of the village teacher and his family as the eldest daughter falls for him, leading to an unexpected turn of fate.
Sideshow and Janus Films have scooped up North American rights in the wake of its Venice win.
The film was selected from 19 submissions which also included Venice 2024 titles, Gianni Amelio Battleground and Francesca Comencini’s The Time It Takes as well as Paolo Sorrentino’s Parthenope
Italy has won the Best International Feature Film Oscar 11 times, with its last victory being Paolo Sorrentino’s The Great Beauty in 2013. The country enjoyed a buzzy awards season ahead of the 96th Academy Awards with Matteo Garrone’s Io Capitano which made it to the nomination stage.