A welcome film in the Maltese language Luzzu was nominated for an Oscar nomination in Malta for Best International Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

The Selection Committee of the Academy of Malta has chosen the characteristic of Alex Camilleri as its entry for the awards, it will not take place on March 27 next year.

Luzzu tells the fictional story of Jesmark, a struggling fisherman forced to turn his back on generations of tradition and risk everything by entering the world of black market fishing to provide for his wife and newborn baby.

Written and directed by Camilleri, it features new star Jesmark Scicluna, a fisherman from Siġġiewi, who has already won the Special Jury Prize of the Sundance Film Festival for his performance.

He has also won awards including the Grand Prize at the Japanese International Film Festival.

The Best International Film contenders will be selected with 15 finalists on December 21 and will go on to the last five Oscar nominees on February 8.

The Selection Committee of the Academy of Malta is jointly chaired by the Malta Producers Association and the Malta Association of Entertainment Industry and Arts.

The selection panel consists of 11 local individuals coming from a variety of diverse backgrounds related to or within the industry.

Skill sets range from acting, directing, production and cinematography as well as expertise with Computer Generated Imaging (CGI), to film and academic criticism.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invites each country to submit one film to compete in the Best International Film category.

The awards will be held on March 27 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.