Xavier Dolan's film Mommy will represent Canada in a bid for a best foreign language film Oscar, it was announced Friday in Montreal.

The film, Dolan's fifth, still needs to be shortlisted by the committee in order to get a chance to win an Academy Award.

"It's a very nice honour and a beautiful challenge that feeds my competitive nature," said Dolan. "It's the first of many steps."

Dolan appeared on stage in Montreal Friday morning with the film's producer Nancy Grant, who played a major role in getting the film made.

The selection by a 23-member jury composed of major government agencies and national film associations was announced by Telefilm Canada.

Observers had predicted that the top contender for the nod would be Mommy, by 25-year-old Quebec director Xavier Dolan.

He shared the Jury Prize with French legend Jean-Luc Godard and his film when Mommy premiered at the Cannes film festival earlier this year.

Mommy tells the story of a mother's complex relationship with her troubled son.

Other possibilities had been Charles Biname's The Elephant Song -- which starred Dolan in an acting role -- as well as "An Eye For Beauty," the latest from Oscar winner Denys Arcand.

Buzz has also surrounded Stephane Lafleur's quirky comedy Tu dors Nicole.

Albert Shin's In Her Place was the subject of Oscar chatter at the recent Toronto International Film Festival, which is considered a key event in the lead-up to Oscar lobbying season.

Canada has been submitting films for consideration by the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1971.

Canada has had three nominees make the final Oscar cut in the last five years with Incendies in the running at the 2011 ceremony; Monsieur Lazhar in 2012; and War Witch in 2013.