Philippe Falardeau’s Oscar-nominated film Monsieur Lazhar won the UPC audience award at the 41st International Film Festival Rotterdam on the weekend.

The Quebec dramedy earlier won top awards at Whistler, Locarno and Toronto.

Monsieur Lazhar portrays an Algerian immigrant who takes over at an elementary school in Montreal after a teacher dies tragically, while going through his own personal tragedy.

Falardeau adapted the film from Évelyne de la Chenelière’s stage play Bashir Lazhar.

The French-language movie is one of five nominees for the best foreign language Oscar.