Quebec director Xavier Dolan has dressed up Laurence Anyways (pictured) for its upcoming U.S. release by bringing indie director Gus Van Sant on board as one of the film’s executive producers.

U.S. distributor Breaking Glass Pictures plans a 2013 stateside release for Dolan’s third film, which bowed in Cannes and earned the best Canadian feature prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Dolan, who has always kept on eye on the U.S. as he conquered the French-language markets in Quebec and France, has now added Van Sant as an executive producer, alongside Lyse Lafontaine, Nathanaël Karmitz and Charles Gillibert.

Laurence Anyways, which stars Melvil Poupard, Suzanne Clement and Nathalie Baye, portrays a decade long relationship between a male-to-female transsexual and her lover.

“As an admirer of Xavier’s work, it’s my pleasure to join him for his first major U.S. release, Laurence Anyways,” Van Sant said Friday in a statement.

“It’s a beautiful film that proves Xavier is one of the most promising young filmmakers working today,” the U.S. director added.

Dolan, in his own statement, repaid the compliment from Van Sant.

“For me to be endorsed by Gus Van Sant is like telling an 8-year old that Batman is his uncle,” he said.