Finland has chosen Un Certain Regard winner "The Happiest Day in the Life of the Olli Maki" to represent the country at the Oscars. Directed by Juho Kuosmanen, the film marks the helmers first feature length.

As noted "The Happiest Day in the Life of the Olli Maki" premiered at the Cannes Film festival in the Un Certain Regard sidebar and won the top prize. Universally hailed by critics, the film went on to screen at the Karlovy Vary, Munich and Melbourne Film Festivals. It will also screen at the Toronto Film Festival and the London Film Festival this fall.

"The Happiest Day in the Life of the Olli Maki" marks the fifth year in a row where a country submits the Un Certain regard winner. Last year Iceland submitted "Rams while in 2014 Hungary sent "White God." In 2013 Cambodia submitted "The Missing Picture" and was nominated for the Oscar.

Finland began submitting in 1973 and has only been nominated once. The country was nominated in 2002 for "A Man without a Past." However, that film lost to Germany's "Nowhere in Africa." Last year Finland was almost nominated as it made the January shortlist with its Golden Globe nominee "The Fencer."

This year Finland's "The Happiest Day in the Life of the Olli Maki" could obtain the country its second nomination as it will likely obtain U.S. distribution and obtain more buzz out of the festival circuit.

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 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.'

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