Xavier Dolan’s Mommy tapped for possible Oscar contention

Quebec director Xavier Dolan's Mommy has been selected as Canada's bid for Oscar glory in the best foreign-language film category.

• RAW VIDEO | Mommy director Xavier Dolan reacts to the news
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Telefilm Canada made the announcement at a news conference in Montreal on Friday.

"It's a very nice honour, a very good challenge, that feeds my competitive side," a laughing Dolan told reporters.

"That being said, it's the first of many, many steps. Many people have been through this and their experience will serve to inspire us."

Dolan, 25, said he did allow himself to dream of Mommy getting the nod. "But I’ve always had big, excessive dreams for my movies," he admitted.

The film, which deals with a mother's challenging relationship with her troubled son, received a lengthy standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes film festival in May.

• Xavier Dolan shares Jury Prize at Cannes

It also took home the Jury Prize, which Dolan shared with filmmaking legend Jean-Luc Godard, who won for his film Goodbye to Language.

For your consideration

Dolan's first film, I Killed My Mother, was put forward for Oscar consideration in 2009 but was not nominated.

He has directed five feature films and has been described as a prodigy and a phenomenon.

Canada has submitted films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration since 1971.

As of 2013, seven Canadian films have been nominated and one has won.

That was 2003's The Barbarian Invasions.

It was directed by Denys Arcand, who was also nominated in 1986 for The Decline of the American Empire and in 1989 for Jesus of Montreal.

Mommy opens in Quebec theatres on Friday, and in Toronto on Oct. 3.