# Green Lava: A young poet's Oscar journey > A documentary about a 22-year-old with muscular dystrophy is heading to the Oscars, carrying a message of hope and faith to Hollywood. - Title: Green Lava: A young poet's Oscar journey · Vaticannews - Summary: A documentary about a 22-year-old with muscular dystrophy is heading to the Oscars, carrying a message of hope and faith to Hollywood. Giacomo Mattivi's… - Keywords: giacomo mattivi, green lava, documentary short film, oscars, academy awards, duchenne muscular dystrophy, vatican news, lia beltrami, ali aksu, baselga di piné, pope francis, faith and disability - Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-09/green-lava-giacomo-mattivi-story-on-the-road-to-the-oscars.html - Author: Vatican News - Published: 2026-09-18T09:07:05.595+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: giacomo mattivi, green lava, documentary short film, oscars, academy awards, duchenne muscular dystrophy, vatican news, lia beltrami, ali aksu, baselga di piné, pope francis, faith and disability ## Meet Giacomo Mattivi At 22, Giacomo lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair and ventilator. He studies sociology, works as a catechist, writes poetry, and has a passion for cinema, music, and nature. ## A family shaped by loss Giacomo's brother Mattia died from the same condition in January 2022. Rather than withdrawing, the Mattivi family opened themselves to others through the Shemà association and Casa Iride project. ## From podcast to documentary Vatican Radio first told Giacomo's story in a five-part podcast series in 2024 called Il talento di Giacomo. The success led directors Lia Beltrami and Ali Aksu to create the documentary Green Lava. ## Green Lava heads to Hollywood The documentary premiered in Rome on January 25, 2025, during the Jubilee of Communications. It will screen at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills from September 18 to 24 as part of the Oscar qualification process. ## A message beyond awards Giacomo sees the Oscar opportunity not as personal pride but as a chance for his message to reach millions. He emphasizes how the film echoes Pope Francis' calls for fraternity, community, and care for creation. > I am truly happy and excited about this moment because Green Lava has reached a wider audience and will reach so many people. ## Illness as a different lens Giacomo explains that living with illness offers a unique perspective on suffering, meaning, and how the world works. It teaches resilience and the ability to keep moving forward, much like nature itself. > If you look at illness from another perspective, you understand many things about the way the world works, about suffering, and even about its meaning. ## Director Lia Beltrami's vision Beltrami describes Giacomo's strength and joy as touching every cell in your body. She sees his life and community as examples of authenticity and solidarity, a living Gospel brought to Hollywood. > His strength, his joy in living, and the depth of his being touch every cell in your body. ## An antidote to clouded vision Dr. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, calls Green Lava an antidote to our clouded eyes. He describes it as a journey into the disruptive beauty of life and friendship. > Green Lava is an antidote to our clouded eyes, even when we are not wearing glasses. ## A small film knocking on Oscar's door Ruffini expresses emotion watching this small film make its way to the Oscars like an irreverent young man revealing the secret of beauty. Green Lava carries Giacomo's desire to share a way of looking at vulnerability that generates hope. ## Key takeaway Giacomo Mattivi's story shows how vulnerability and community can become sources of creativity and inspiration rather than defeat.