Cape Town – Afrikaans film Skoonheid has been selected as the South African entrant for the Best Foreign Language Film category at next year's Oscars, according to the film's director, Oliver Hermanus.

Hermanus tweeted on Friday: "Skoonheid has been selected as the South African entrant for the Foreign Language Film Oscar nomination. Gimme a 'Yeah!!'"

Every year, countries who wish to be considered in the category for Best Foreign Language Film must submit one film entrant for consideration. Out of the many entries received by the Academy, five nominees are chosen.

Skoonheid made headlines in May when it became the first Afrikaans film to be shown at the illustrious Cannes Film Festival. The film also walked away with the Queer Palm award for its contributions to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues.

Most recently, the film secured an American distribution deal with TLA Releasing.

Skoonheid tells the cautionary tale of Francois van Heerden (played by Deon Lotz), a middle-aged Bloemfontein family man, who develops a conflicted infatuation with Christian, the 23-year-old son of an old friend.