Nina Roza, a film written and directed by Quebec filmmaker Geneviève Dulude-De Celles, has been selected to represent Canada in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. Telefilm Canada announced the decision on August 25, 2026, following a review by a pan-Canadian committee of filmmakers and industry professionals. The film was chosen from 17 submissions and will enter the Academy’s selection process ahead of the ceremony scheduled for March 14, 2027. The selection represents Canada’s official submission, not an Academy Award nomination.
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The film follows Mihail, a man who returns to Bulgaria three decades after leaving the country. His journey begins when a video of an eight-year-old artist attracts the attention of an art collector, who sends Mihail to evaluate the child’s work. The assignment brings him back into contact with memories and personal circumstances he had left behind. The story explores migration, artistic identity and the relationship between an individual’s present life and the place from which they came. The cast includes Galin Stoev, Sofia Stanina, Ekaterina Stanina, Michelle Tzontchev, Christian Bégin and Chiara Caselli.
Nina Roza has already received recognition on the international festival circuit. It premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, where Dulude-De Celles received the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay. The film also received an Audience Award at the Sofia International Film Festival and appeared at events in Istanbul, Jeonju and Shanghai. Its North American premiere took place at Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma on April 22, 2026, followed by a theatrical release in Quebec on April 24. These appearances have provided opportunities for the production to reach audiences beyond its original creative and geographic context.
