A poster of "Forever Enthralled"

The State Administration of Radio Film and Television has selected the biopic drama "Forever Enthralled" as the country's entry to compete in the best foreign language film category at the Oscar awards next year, the news website Sina.com reports.

Chen Hong, the film's supervisor, lead star and wife of director Chen Kaige, confirmed the news when contacted by Sina on Saturday.

"It is a big honor that 'Forever Enthralled" was chosen," she said.

The article cited unidentified sources who said the administration's China Film Bureau had voted to nominate the film about the life of Peking opera master Mei Lanfang and filed the relevant materials with the Oscar awards organizers in Los Angeles, California.

This marks director Chen's third attempt to vie for an Oscar, following another Peking opera hit, "Farewell, My Concubine," and the fantasy epic "The Promise."

"Forever Enthralled" hit screens on December 4 and earned record box office revenue of 113 million yuan (US$ 17 million).

Chen Kaige was named outstanding director for "Forever Enthralled," and lead star Zhang Ziyi grabbed the best actress award for the film at the 13th Huabiao Awards, the highest film honor given biennially by the Chinese government, in August.

Other competitors for next year's best foreign language film at the Oscars are the Taiwan tear-jerker "No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti" by director Leon Dai and "Prince of Tears" from Hong Kong.

(CRI September 27, 2009)