Italian Animated Short 'Storia di Sergio' Enters Race for 2026 Oscar Nomination

The Italian animated short film, Storia di Sergio, has officially been longlisted for consideration in the Best Animated Short Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards. Directed by Rosalba Vitellaro, the picture secured its eligibility after a crucial screening held in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, a milestone confirmed by the creators on October 17. Vitellaro co-wrote the screenplay with Alessandra Viola for the project, which was successfully brought to life through a dedicated crowdfunding campaign.

Members of the Academy are now able to view the film on a specialized platform as the selection process moves forward. The voting period for the shortlist is scheduled to take place between December 8 and 12, with the final nominees set to be announced shortly thereafter on December 16.

The film recounts the tragic, yet historically factual, life of Sergio De Simone, a Jewish boy born in Naples on November 29, 1937. Sergio’s family background was complex: his father, Edoardo De Simone, was a Catholic naval officer, while his mother, Gisella Perlow, was Jewish. Seeking refuge from the intense bombings plaguing the region in 1943, Gisella relocated with her son to Fiume to stay with relatives. However, tragedy struck on March 21, 1944, when they were apprehended alongside seven other family members, including Sergio’s young cousins, Andra and Tatiana.

Following their arrest, Sergio was deported in April 1944 at the tender age of seven. His harrowing journey began with deportation to Auschwitz. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Neuengamme concentration camp, situated near Hamburg. Established in 1938, Neuengamme was recognized as the largest camp in northwestern Germany. It was here that Sergio became the sole Italian child among a group of twenty children selected by Dr. Kurt Heissmeyer. These children were subjected to horrific medical experiments, a grim fate that underscores the brutality of the era, culminating in their murder in the basements of the Bullenhuser Damm school just before the cessation of hostilities.

The heartbreaking circumstances of Sergio's final days were shared by his cousins, Tatiana and Andra, during a memorial ceremony held in Hamburg on April 20, 2017. They recalled the tragic twist of fate: Sergio, having disregarded a warning, departed with the group of twenty children and was never seen again. Meanwhile, Gisella De Simone was liberated from Ravensbrück in November 1945. She reunited with her husband and later gave birth to another son, Mario, though she held onto the hope of Sergio's return until her own death. The crucial work of preserving the memory of these twenty victims was undertaken by journalist Günter Schwarzberg and his wife, Barbara Hüsing, who dedicated decades to the effort. Today, Sergio’s legacy is honored in Hamburg-Burgwedel, where a street bears his name: Sergio-de Simone-Stieg.

This current cinematic endeavor aligns thematically with the previously acclaimed short film, The Star of Andra and Tati, which focused on the Bucci sisters. The film’s inclusion in the Oscar race serves as a powerful recognition of the team's commitment to upholding the historical memory of the Holocaust and promoting ideals of peace and historical justice, remaining highly relevant in the face of contemporary challenges concerning identity and remembrance.