Quebec director Denis Villeneuve has received an Oscar nomination for his searing family drama “Incendies.”
The movie — which follows twins as they travel to the Middle East to uncover their mother's horrific war-ravaged past — will compete for best foreign-language film.
It's up against Greece's “Dogtooth,” Denmark's “In a Better World,” Algeria's “Outside the Law,” and Mexico's “Biutiful.”
Villeneuve adapted “Incendies” from Wajdi Mouawad's play, which he saw in Montreal in 2004.
He made the film while simultaneously working on “Polytechnique,” his acclaimed 2009 cinematic rendering of the Montreal massacre.
Telefilm Canada helped finance “Incendies” through its Canada Feature Film Fund.
“We are thrilled to see ‘Incendies' achieve such a high, and well-deserved, honour,” Telefilm's Carolle Brabant said in a statement Tuesday morning.
“We are proud to have supported Denis Villeneuve, who has helped elevate Canada's reputation as world-class filmmakers with great artistic vision. The film's message is universal, reaching beyond language or borders.”
Starring Belgian actress Lubna Azabal, “Incendies” was named best Canadian film by Toronto and Vancouver film critics and has collected several awards on the festival circuit.
In addition to “Polytechnique,” Villeneuve's previous films include 2000's whimsical “Maelstrom” and his 1998 feature-length debut “Un 32 aout sur terre.”
The last time Canada was nominated for a foreign-language film Oscar was in 2007 for Deepa Mehta's “Water.”
The last time a Canadian film won the category was in 2004 for Denys Arcand's “The Barbarian Invasions.”
Many have called Villeneuve the heir apparent to Arcand.
The Oscars will be handed out Feb. 27.
