Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World to represent Canada in race for 2017 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar

MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Director Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World (Juste la fin du monde), a Canada majority coproduction with France, will represent Canada for consideration as a possible nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 89th Academy Awards, to be held on February 26, 2017. The pan-Canadian Oscar selection committee, chaired and coordinated by Telefilm Canada, announced its decision today.

"This will be a wonderful journey into U.S. territory for It's Only the End of the World and its director," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "This selection by Canada will kick off an exciting promotional campaign in the United States. We are confident that It's Only the End of the World, which won the Grand Prix and the Ecumenical Jury Prize in Cannes, will continue along its successful path. There's no doubt it will move members of the Academy as it has engaged thousands of movie-lovers to date."

It's Only the End of the World
Based on the play Juste la fin du monde by French playwright Jean-Luc Lagarce, the film tells the story of a young writer who, after a 12-year absence, returns to his hometown to announce his impending death. The film deals with the universal subject of family that, as the director himself has stated, is a place "where we speak of our love for each other through our never-ending quarrels, and where, in spite of ourselves, we shout about our resentments, the expression of doubt and solitude."

It's Only the End of the World, which opened in theatres in Canada and France on September 21, has already drawn large audiences, breaking records in France for its box-office performance on opening day.

After I Killed My Mother (J'ai tué ma mère) in 2009 and Mommy in 2014, this film is Xavier Dolan's third to represent Canada for consideration as a possible nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars—an achievement in itself.

It's Only the End of the World was funded through Telefilm's Canada Feature Film Fund and produced by Nancy Grant and Xavier Dolan (Sons of Manual, Canada), Sylvain Corbeil (Canada), and Nathanaël Karmitz (MK2, France). The film is distributed in Quebec by Les Films Séville, a subsidiary of Entertainment One. Seville International, Les Films Séville's international sales division, handles international sales, with the exception of France, where the film is represented by MK2 and distributed by Diaphana.

The film stars Gaspard Ulliel (Saint Laurent, Hannibal Rising), Nathalie Baye (Laurence Anyways, Catch Me if You Can), Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone, La Vie en Rose), Léa Seydoux (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Blue Is the Warmest Colour), and Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, My King).

Selection process for the Best Foreign Language Film category
Telefilm coordinates and chairs the pan-Canadian Oscar selection committee, which comprises 23 representatives from the main governmental organizations and associations active in the audiovisual industry. This jury is responsible for submitting one film to represent Canada to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which accepts only one film per country in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The selected film must have been produced outside the United States, be primarily in a language other than English, and have been shown in a movie theatre for at least seven consecutive days in its country of origin between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016. A shortlist of nine films from among those submitted will be announced in December 2016. Of these nine, five will officially be nominated in January 2017.

In 2015, 81 countries submitted a feature film to the Academy for consideration.

Further information about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rules and regulations

Canada and the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars
In the history of the Oscars, eight Canadian films have been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category: Kim Nguyen's War Witch (Rebelle), in 2013; Philippe Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar and Agnieszka Holland's In Darkness (a minority coproduction with Poland and Germany), in 2012; Denis Villeneuve's Incendies, in 2011; and Deepa Mehta's Water, in 2007. Three films by Denys Arcand were also nominated: The Decline of the American Empire (Le Déclin de l'empire américain), in 1987, Jesus of Montreal (Jésus de Montréal), in 1990, and The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares), which won the coveted award in 2004.

Members of the pan-Canadian selection committee that chooses the Canadian film to be submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT)
Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)
Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)
Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l'image et du son (AQTIS)
Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM)
Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma (AQCC)
Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ)
Canada Council for the Arts
Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA)
Creative BC
Creative Saskatchewan
Directors Guild of Canada
Global Affairs Canada
Manitoba Film and Music
National Film Board of Canada
New Brunswick — Tourism, Heritage and Culture
Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation
Nova Scotia Business
Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC)
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)
Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma du Québec (SARTEC)
Union des artistes
Yukon Film & Sound Commission

About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Created in 1967, Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund and the Talent Fund, a private donation initiative. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

SOURCE Telefilm Canada

Media enquiries: Françoise Lapointe, Advisor, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, [phone], ext. 2028 or 1-800-567-0890, [email protected]