Bologna Filmmaker Wins First Oscar for Italy with Short Film

Valentina Merli's co-produced short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva" takes home Best Live Action Short at the 98th Academy Awards.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:07pm

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Bologna-born filmmaker Valentina Merli has become the first Italian to win an Oscar, sharing the award for Best Live Action Short Film with the co-production "The Singers" at the 98th Academy Awards. Merli's win highlights the growing importance of international co-productions and the artistic merit of short films, while also raising questions about the need for increased support for Italy's rich cinematic tradition.

Why it matters

Merli's Oscar win is a landmark achievement for Italian cinema, which has long struggled to gain global recognition despite its storied history. Her success story demonstrates the viability of international co-productions and the artistic potential of short films, potentially inspiring a new generation of Italian filmmakers to pursue their vision both at home and abroad. However, Merli's lament about the lack of support for cinema in Italy underscores the need for greater domestic investment in the country's cultural industries.

The details

Merli's award-winning short film, "Two People Exchanging Saliva", was co-produced by her Paris-based production company Misia Films. The dystopian film, which premiered at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, features Iranian actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi and tackles the theme of a world where kissing is punishable by death. Merli's involvement in the project highlights the growing trend of international co-productions as a means to finance and distribute independent films.

  • Valentina Merli won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards on March 16, 2026.
  • Merli's award-winning short film, "Two People Exchanging Saliva", premiered at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival.

The players

Valentina Merli

A Bologna-born filmmaker who has become the first Italian to win an Oscar, sharing the award for Best Live Action Short Film with the co-production "The Singers" at the 98th Academy Awards.

Misia Films

The production company founded by Valentina Merli in Paris six years ago, which has been instrumental in bringing diverse stories to life, including the Oscar-winning short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva" and the 2020 Venice Film Festival opener "Lacci" by Daniele Luchetti.

Zar Amir Ebrahimi

An Iranian actress known for her roles in films like "Holy Spider", who starred in Merli's Oscar-winning short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva".

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What they’re saying

“I'm sorry that Italy is absent. We have directors, actors, and technicians who are fantastic. I consider that cinema – like all culture – is not sufficiently supported in Italy.”

— Valentina Merli

What’s next

The success of Valentina Merli's Oscar win could inspire a new generation of Italian filmmakers to pursue their vision, both at home and abroad, and could lead to increased support and investment in Italy's cultural industries.

The takeaway

Valentina Merli's Oscar win for the co-produced short film "Two People Exchanging Saliva" is a landmark achievement for Italian cinema, demonstrating the viability of international co-productions and the artistic merit of short films. However, Merli's lament about the lack of support for cinema in Italy underscores the need for greater domestic investment in the country's rich cinematic tradition.