At the 39th Settimana Internazionale della Critica, Playing God — an extraordinary stop-motion short film directed by Matteo Burani and animated by Arianna Gheller for Studio Croma Animation — premiered in competition within the SIC@SIC section. Today, that “infernal and visionary” film — as we described it at its world premiere in Venice — marks a historic milestone: Playing God has officially entered the 15-title shortlist for the Academy Awards® in the Best Animated Short Film category. It is the first Italian short ever to reach the Oscars shortlist in this category.

Nine minutes of matter, light and human fissures: Playing God digs its hands into the contradictions of our time, opening a reflection on fragility, marginalisation and the longing for belonging. A philosophical piece of body horror that stages creation and destruction as a social metaphor, reminding us that each individual is shaped — and reshaped — through the gaze of others.

News of the shortlist arrives after an exhilarating festival run: 180 official selections, 92 international awards, and a global tour that began in Venice and reached Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Indianapolis — including the two Oscar®-qualifying festivals where the film won the Grand Prix for Best Animated Short: Tribeca and Animayo. A success built over time, the result of seven years of work and the tenacity of an under-35 team that chose to remain in Italy to make films, trusting in the power of handcrafted stop motion in an era dominated by digital automation.

Produced by Studio Croma Animation, co-produced by Autour de Minuit and Onira, and supported by the Emilia-Romagna Film Commission, the Italian Ministry of Culture and the CNC, Playing God began as a low-budget Kickstarter project before catching the attention of Autour de Minuit — a rarity within the current international animation landscape, made even brighter by its recognition from the Academy®. In Italy, distribution and sales are handled by Sayonara Film.

«This achievement rewards a long, demanding journey made of attempts, errors, stubbornness, and above all the deep desire to tell the story of our time,» say Burani and Gheller. The producers echo this sentiment, describing Playing God as «a mirror of the present: a dark era, favourable to tyrants and oppression, yet still capable of revealing a glimmer of collective hope.»

We are thrilled to see the international film community now recognizing the film’s vision — just as we did at the moment of its selection — and immensely proud to see Playing God representing Italy in the Academy Awards race. On the eve of the final nominations — to be announced on 22 January, ahead of the Academy Awards® ceremony on 15 March in Los Angeles — the Critics’ Week celebrates the film and its creators.

Beatrice Fiorentino, General Delegate and Artistic Director of the SIC, states:
«Playing God reaching the Oscars shortlist is an extraordinary achievement that fills us with joy and pride. It is the success of Matteo, Arianna and the entire team, but also the confirmation of the value and the vision behind SIC@SIC (Short Italian Cinema @ Settimana Internazionale della Critica), a section dedicated to short films and organised in collaboration with Cinecittà, which for ten years has invested with conviction in the research and discovery of new Italian talents. Playing God captures the spirit of our present: restless, at times dark, marked by fragility and a longing for community. It reminds us how essential independent cinema — and animated cinema, too often overlooked — is for understanding the world. To the entire team, from all of us at SIC, our warmest and strongest good luck for this extraordinary journey.»

Playing God will be available on YouTube from 22 December to 11 January. For any updates and official materials, you can visit the Autour de Minuit website or the film’s dedicated social media channels.