Virizi said he would go to Los Angeles Thursday to conclude US distribution negotiations, and to start campaigning for the Golden Globe awards in January, seen as a key staging post in the sprint towards the ultimate Oscar prize.
"The film is full of love and also feelings of reconciliation with life's obstacles, universal themes that will I hope strike the Academy members and the American public," Virizi said.
A team from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles will watch all the selected films from each continent and on January 25 announce the list of five films in competition for the coveted golden statue.
"The First Beautiful Thing" has already scooped a handful of David di Donatello awards in Italy, for best screenplay, best actor and best actress.
Last year Italy selected the Sicilian historical drama "Baaria" by Giuseppe Tornatore as its Oscar representative, but the film did not make it onto the shortlist.
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