The surreal comedy directed by Montrealer Matthew Rankin, A universal languagehas been chosen to represent Canada in the Oscar race in the Best International Film category, Telefilm Canada announced Tuesday.
“To be able to connect on this scale with a film like this is incredible,” exclaimed Matthew Rankin. “We’re ecstatic! But the truth is, I had no expectations. I’m from Winnipeg! We’re not really competitive people, but it’s really a joy to see the film reach such a large audience.”
The film, in which Matthew Rankin plays himself, alongside co-writers Pirouz Nemati and Ila Firouzabadi, as well as actor Mani Soleymanlou, all three of Iranian origin, won the Audience Award at the Quinzaine des Cinémathèques at the Cannes Film Festival last May.1Actress Danielle Fichaud also has a role in the feature film.
Produced by Sylvain Corbeil, from Metafilms, A universal language is now part of the list of international films that will compete at the 97e The Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025. A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on December 17, while the Academy’s list of five finalists will be released on January 17.
Last year it was the feature documentary Rojekwritten and directed by Montreal filmmaker of Kurdish origin Zaynê Akyol, who had been chosen by Téléfilm, but the film did not make it to the final selection.
The film “in a good position”
A universal language tells several stories that end up intersecting. That of two elementary school students, Negin and Nazgol, who are trying to get money out of a frozen sidewalk in Winnipeg; that of Massoud, who takes guided tours in the same Prairie province; and that of Matthew, who leaves his job as a civil servant in Montreal to visit his mother… in Winnipeg.
Matthew Rankin, who won the Critics’ Prize at the Berlin Film Festival in 2020 for his first film, The twentieth centurya biographical satire about former Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King, was delighted with the nomination.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Director Matthew Rankin in 2019
“This film comes from a collective joy that we experienced together,” he told us. “It was in a spirit of deep friendship that we shot it. I still managed to make this film with my best friends. I mean, it’s so improbable to be selected to represent Canada, but we’re going to do our best to do it. Above all, we’re going to share this pleasure with all the beautiful and hilarious people who are part of this cinematic family, this strange brain that is our film.”
Producer Sylvain Corbeil believes that Matthew Rankin’s film “is in a good position to go as far as possible in the campaign. We already have a partner in the United States who is very solid, we have good media coverage, good reviews, a good run at festivals. We won the Audience Award at Cannes, we just won an award at the Melbourne Festival, so it’s very positive.”
Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director and CEO, Julie Roy, emphasized the quality of Matthew Rankin’s film, as well as its international potential. Telefilm Canada, which coordinated and chaired the pan-Canadian selection committee, received a total of 26 films for the annual selection of Best International Film submitted to the Oscars.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOUSE 4:3
A universal language will be released on January 31.
The film distributed in Canada by Maison 4:3 will be released in theaters on January 31, 2025. It has already been sold to nearly 45 countries according to the producer.
For Sylvain Corbeil, the selection ofA universal language is an opportunity to give greater visibility to this film. “We make films to share them,” he says. “We want as many people as possible to see the film. We put all our heart, all our ideas, all our originality into it. So the selections and the prizes shed new light on our films, it gives them a boost. And then, it opens doors to future collaborations and new means of distribution.”
Eight Canadian films have successfully passed all the stages to be nominated in the Best International Film category: Rebel of Kim Nguyen, in 2013; Mr. Lazhar by Philippe Falardeau and In Darkness by Agnieszka Holland (a co-production with Poland and Germany), in 2012; Fires by Denis Villeneuve, in 2011; and Water by Deepa Mehta, in 2007. Three films by Denys Arcand were also nominated: The Barbarian Invasions, in 2004, which is to date the only Canadian film to have won the award in this category; Jesus of Montreal in 1990; and The Decline of the American Empire in 1987.
1. Read our interview with Matthew Rankin at the Cannes Film Festival