Denys Arcand is taking another run at the Oscars, now that his Les Invasions barbares has been submitted for a best foreign-language nom at the 76th Academy Awards. If nominated, it will mark the third time Canada and Arcand have been in the running for the U.S. prize, following 1989’s Jesus de Montreal and Le Declin de l’empire americain in 1986.

Canada, one of 87 countries invited by the Academy to submit their top films for consideration, has never won the foreign-language Oscar.

‘Denys Arcand is one of Canada’s greatest filmmakers, masterfully marrying touching observations on humanity with a spirited sense of entertainment,’ said Richard Stursberg, head of Telefilm Canada, which chairs the selection committee.

The film, a follow-up to Declin, has already won accolades around the world – taking the best actress and best screenplay honors at Cannes, best Canadian feature at the Toronto International Film Festival and $5 at the Quebec box office since opening in May. Miramax will release it across the U.S. on Nov. 21. Odeon Films will release it in English Canada that same day.

The Academy will announce the five nominees on Jan. 27, 2004, and hand out the awards on Feb. 29.

-www.oscars.org