In an expected move, Cannes Palme d'Or winner The Class has been chosen to represent France at this year's Oscars.

Laurent Cantet's semi-documentary about life in a tough Parisian high school will vie for a shot at a best foreign language film nomination. The candidates will be announced in January. Click here to see Screen review.

The film will be released next week by Haut et Court in France. World Sales were handled by Memento Films. Sony Pictures Classics has the film for the US. It will open the New York Film Festival this month.

France's film board committee which selected The Class was comprised of, among others, Cannes managing director Thierry Fremaux, Cesar Academy president Alain Terzian, actress Jeanne Moreau and directors Jean-Jacques Annaud, Costa-Gavras and Regis Wargnier.