Jira Maligool's The Tin Mine(Mahalai Meung Rae) has been selected as Thailand's official entry for the best foreign-language filmcategory of the 2006 Academy Awards.

The film was chosen by aseven-member selection committee headed by Somsak Techaratanaprasert of Thailand's Federation of National Film Association.

Produced by GMM Tai Hub, thefilm is a documentary drama adapted from the novel by Archin Panchaphon. Set inpost-World War II southern Thailand, it tells the coming-of-age story of Panchaphon whoworked as a labourer in a tin mine.

The film will have itsinternational premiere next month in Pusan's 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section. It wasreleased in Thailand in May.

No Thai entries for the foreign-languageOscar have ever made it to the final five. Itthi-suthorn Wichailak's TheOverture was submitted last year while Pen-ek Ratanaruang's Last Life In The Universeand Monrak Transistor were chosen in 2003 and 2002 respectively.

The closing date for theforeign-language Oscar category is October 3.