Denys Arcand's TheBarbarian Invasions will beCanada's submission to Best Foreign Language Film category of the AcademyAwards.

The decision was announcedWednesday by Telefilm Canada, which oversees the 24-person selection committee.It's a been stellar week for Arcand: on Sunday he accepted the C$30,000Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto InternationalFilm Festival. Following the film's world premiere in OfficialCompetition at Cannes Arcand won the prize for best screenplay whileMarie-Josee Croze won the prize for best actress.

The C$3.5m film has earnedmore than C$5.7m in Quebec alone since its release in May. It moves on to theNew York Film Festival later this month before going on release November 21 inthe US through Miramax and in the rest of Canada through Alliance Atlantis.

The Academy of MotionPicture Arts and Science (AMPAS) has invited 87 countries to make submissions.Only one film is accepted from each country. AMPAS draws up a short list offive titles, which will be announced along with other nominations on January 27, 2004.

Written and directed byDenys Arcand, The Barbarian Invasions was produced by Montreal-based Cinemaginaire and France'sPyramide Productions with backing from Telefilm Canada, SODEC, AllianceAtlantis, Radio-Canada Television, Astral Media, Canal + and France'sCNDC.