Oscars: Winnipeg director Matthew Rankin’s ‘Universal Language’ advances to next round [Video]

TORONTO –

Canada’s Oscar submission for best international feature film, the absurdist dramedy “Universal Language,” is advancing to the next round in the race, officials announced Tuesday.

The movie from Winnipeg’s Matthew Rankin is one of 15 that made the short list for the category, five of which will be chosen as nominees.

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Each year, countries are invited to submit a film — in which no more than half the dialogue is English — for consideration in the category.

“Universal Language” sees Rankin play himself alongside a Persian- and French-speaking cast in an alternate universe where Winnipeg, Quebec and Tehran converge as one.

The movie won the Best Canadian Discovery award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and was named best Canadian film at the Vancouver International Film Festival a month later.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released short lists for 10 categories on Tuesday. The nominations will …