Quebec's Xavier Dolan gets Csar nomination for Laurence Anyways

Quebec whiz-kid director Xavier Dolan has received a best foreign film nomination for Frances Csar Awards for his latest film, Laurence Anyways.

Dolan impressed audiences at the Cannes and Toronto film festivals with his film about a devoted couple whose relationship is put to the test when the male partner wants to change sex. Laurence Anyways won thebest Canadian film prize at TIFF.

Just 23, Dolan has already screened three films at Cannes, including his debut J'ai tu ma mre and second feature film Les Amours Imaginaires.

In the foreign film category, hefaces tough competition, including Danish director Nikolaj Arcels A Royal Affair and Argo, Ben Affleck's film about the CIA operation that helped six Americans slip out of Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis.

The other nominees for best foreign film:

• Bullhead, directed by Michael R. Roskam (Belgium).
• Oslo, August 31st, directed by Joachim Trier (Norway).
• The Angels' Share, directed by Ken Loach (Britain).
• Our Children, directed by Joachim Lafosse (Belgium).

The race for the Csars, Frances equivalent of the Oscars, was led by Nomie Lvovsky's Camille Rewinds (Camille Redouble) with 13 nominations and Michael Haneke's Amour with 10 nominations.

Amour, a moving depiction of love between an elderly couple, is also a leadingcontender for Academy Awardsfor both best foreign film and best actors. Its stars Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva are in the running for best actor and best actress Csars, with a supporting actress nomination for Isabelle Huppert.

Thenominees for best film:

• Farewell My Queen
• Amour
• Camille Rewinds
• In the House
• Rust and Bone
• Holy Motors
• What's in a Name

Last year's Csar winner, The Artist, went on to win the best picture Oscar.

The Csar winners will be named on Feb. 22 in Paris, just two days before the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.