Ottawa, Canada – The National Arts Centre today congratulated the creators of Incendies, the critically-acclaimed film chosen by Telefilm Canada as the country's candidate for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83^rd Academy Awards to take place next February.

The film is based on a play by Wajdi Mouawad, writer, director, actor, and artistic director of the National Arts Centre (NAC) French Theatre. Quebec filmmaker, Denis Villeneuve adapted the play into a screenplay and directed the film.

“Incendies the film was inspired by Incendies the play, which was inspired by a woman, Soha Becharra, who was imprisoned for six years in Khiam, in southern Lebanon,” explained Wajdi Mouawad. “For me, the success of this play and the film is a way to give back some life to a woman whose life was taken away from her.”

“Incendies was a groundbreaking work of Canadian Theatre when it premiered in 2003,” said Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO of the National Arts Centre. “Now it is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the finest Canadian films ever made. The National Arts Centre congratulates the makers of Incendies and wishes them the best at next year’s Oscars.”

The film –  about a pair of siblings who travel to the Middle East to unravel mysteries about their family history –  has been lavished with praise at several recent film festivals in Venice, Telluride, Colo., and, most recently, at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was named the best Canadian feature film.

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For more information, please contact:

Rosemary Thompson National Arts Centre 613-947-7000, ext. 260