Algeria has selected "The Well" to represent the country at the Academy Awards. Directed by Lotfi Bouchouchi, the film premiered last year at the Brussels and Muscat Film festival.

The film marks the first time that Lotfi Bouchouchi represents the country and while the film has not obtained great exposure worldwide, it will definitely be a movie to look out for. That is due in part because Algeria has been nominated four times for the Academy Awards and also won in 1969 for the country's first nomination. The winning film was called "Z" and it bowed at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.

The last time the country was nominated was in 2010 for the film "Outside the Law." That film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was acquired by Cohen Media Group. It was also the sequel to the Algerian Oscar nominated film "Days of Glory," which was nominated in 2006.

Last year Alegria submitted "Twilight of shadows" but the film never fully obtained the worldwide exposure necessary to gain buzz.

 Every year numerous countries submit films to the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences to compete for the Foreign Language Category. Among the top contenders this year include Cannes competition films "Toni Erdmann," Pedro Almodovar's "Julieta," and "Sieranevada." Other contenders include Venice Film Festival winner "From Afar," Tribeca Film Festival darling "El Clasico, Toronto selection "The Ardennes" and Karlovy Vary Selections "House of Others" and "Kills on Wheels."

In recent years the Academy has awarded "Son of Saul," "Ida," "The Great Beauty," and "A Separation" the best foreign language film of the year.

The deadline to submit for the foreign language category is Oct. 3. On Jan. 17 the Academy will announce the nine finalists from among the eligible films and on Jan. 24 nominations will be announced. The winner will be announced at the Oscar ceremony on Feb. 26, 2017.