Quebec's Incendies garners Oscar nomination for best foreign language film

Canada has an official shot at an Oscar in the best foreign language category.

Congratulations to Denis Villeneuve whose drama Incendies, an adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad's play about Canadian twins who search for their family in the Middle East, has received an Academy Award nomination for best foreign language film.

In a press release from Entertainment One, Villeneuve stated: "This is one of the most intense nights and mornings in my life. This nomination feels like a very big Christmas gift to a 6 year old. I want to share this honor with Wajdi Mouawad whose incredible play and ideas are the basis of the film. I am proud that the film conveys the same message of reconciliation as the play, a message that is quite important in 2011".

The film, which is in French and Arabic with English subtitles, had been one of nine films shortlisted for best foreign language Oscar. It had also been chosen as best Canadian film of 2010 by the Toronto Film Critics Association and the Vancouver Film Critics Circle.

One of its competitors is Denmark’s In a Better World, which won the Golden Globe award for best foreign language film on January 16.

Other nominees in the category are Biutiful (Mexico), Dogtooth (Greece), and Outside the Law (Algeria).

The last time a Canadian film was nominated in this category was in 2006 for Deepa Mehta’s Water. Denys Arcand won the foreign language Oscar for Les invasions barbares (The Barbarian Invasions) in 2004.

Incendies is currently playing in Vancouver.

Another Canadian film, Barney's Version, received a nomination for best makeup. Lead star Paul Giamatti won the best actor award (in a comedy or musical) at the Golden Globes.

Meanwhile, The King’s Speech leads with 12 Oscar nominations, followed by True Grit with 10 nominations.

The Oscars will be awarded on February 27.