The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story , previously titled Nativity , is a 2006 film starring Keisha Castle-Hughes , the Oscar -nominated actress of Whale Rider and Shohreh Aghdashloo , the Oscar -nominated supporting actress of House of Sand and Fog . Filming began on May 1 , 2006 in Matera, Italy and in Morocco . New Line Cinema released it on December 1 , 2006 in the United States and one week later on December 8 in the European Union . The film made history as being the first film ever to stage its world premiere in the Vatican City .