Mexico Sends “Cantinflas” to the Oscars for Foreign Film Category

Mexico's film academy has picked Cantinflas, a biopic about iconic comedian Mario Moreno, as its foreign-language Oscar submission.

Starring Oscar Jaenada alongside Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), the Sebastian del Amo-directed Cantinflas opened in the U.S. on Aug. 29 and it will bow in Mexico on Sept. 16.

Should the film land an Oscar nomination, Cantinflas will be looking to make history as Mexico's first winner in the foreign language category.

Mexico has won eight Oscar nominations in the category, but has walked away empty handed every time. Recent nominees include Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's drama . . .