There was a small but meaningful Italian presence at the 2026 Academy Awards as Two People Exchanging Saliva won the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film, tying with The Singers. Among the film’s producers is Bologna-born Valentina Merli, who served as a minority co-producer on the project.
Speaking from the foyer of the Dolby Theatre, Merli shared her excitement about holding the iconic statuette. “This statue is heavy, but it feels great in my hands. I’m not letting go of it, not even for a moment,” she said.
Her joy was accompanied by a reflection on the role of culture in Italy. “I’m sorry that Italy isn’t more present here. We have such a strong and admired cinematic tradition around the world. We have incredible directors, actors and technicians. Cinema - like culture in general - deserves far greater support in Italy.”
The short film, directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2024. It tells the story of a dystopian world where kissing another person is punishable by death.
The film stars Iranian-French actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, known for her performances in Holy Spider, Tatami, and Reading Lolita in Tehran. She was unable to attend the ceremony as she recently welcomed a baby.