"Cantinflas" has been charming audiences with its release in around 400 theaters across the U.S. and soon in Mexico, Central and South America and the Dominican Republic. Now with the backing of the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences, the film may go on to nab an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language film category.

"Cantinflas," which is distributed by Pantelion Films in the U.S. and Videocine Distribucion in Mexico, has been selected by the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences to represent the country in the Academy Awards, where the film will compete for Best Foreign Language film.

Directed by Sebastian del Amo and produced by Vidal Cantu and Adolfo Franco of Kenio Films, "Cantinflas" is an insightful and beautifully executed biopic of Mexico's most beloved comedian Mario Moreno, the serious businessman behind the laughs.

From his humble beginnings performing at tent shows to the big stage in Mexico City and Hollywood, Moreno won over audiences with his quick wit and eventually became a Mexican icon. Moreno went on to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Comedy or Musical in the 1956 film, "Around the World in 80 Days," which won five Academy Awards, including one for Best Picture. 

Dubbed the "Charlie Chaplin of Mexico," even Chaplin himself reportedly embraced Cantinflas, commending him as "the best comedian alive."

"This film is a labor of love; it's very satisfying that it was selected to represent Mexico in the Academy Awards," said Cantu, Variety reports. "I feel very pleased with the work achieved by everyone and by every single one of the actors and the whole crew."

Barcelona, Spain native Óscar Jaenada, who spoke to Latin Post in an exclusive interview, takes on the challenging role of Cantinflas and Moreno. He's best known for his roles in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" alongside Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, "Che: Part 2," and "Camarón: When Flamenco Became Legend," for which he received a Goya Award for Best Actor in 2005.

"The selection of our film motivates us to continue producing inspiring stories and quality entertainment of the highest standards," Franco said. "It is a great opportunity that we hope will expose the film to an even broader audience."

The film also stars Ilse Salas ("Un alma simple," "Todo sobre mi madre"), Luis Gerardo Méndez ("Nosotros los nobles," "La otra familia"), Gabriela de la Garza ("Amores querer con alevosía," "Tu mataste a Tarantino"), Ana Layevska ("El firulete," "Querida enemiga"), Adal Ramones ("¿Y ahora qué hago?," "Mujeres asesinas"), Bárbara Mori ("La mujer de mi hermano"), Rafael Amaya ("Doctor mateo," "Hospital central") and James Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos," "Goodfellas, Law & Order").

"Cantinflas," which also released a soundtrack featuring the Grammy Award-winning band La Santa Cecilia and Aleks Syntek, will begin screening on Sept. 16 in Mexico and will reportedly premiere in Bolivia on Sept. 18; in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador on Sept. 25 and in Ecuador on Sept. 26. In Colombia and Panama, the film will premiere on Oct. 2; in the Dominican Republic on Oct. 9; in Chile and Uruguay on Oct. 16; in Brazil on Oct. 22 and in Peru on Oct. 23.