'Violeta' is Chile Oscar entry

Chile's Audiovisual Arts Council has posted "Violeta," by helmer Andres Wood, to represent the nation within the foreign-language film category in the Academy awards. A unique committee of some 40 reps from various guilds selected the pic. "Violeta" was facing Pablo Larrain's "Publish Mortem," which performed competing in the Venice Film Festival this year, and Oscar Godoy's debut feature "Ulysses," both created by Fabula Films. Biopic is Wood's personal vision of Chilean folksinger, poet, activist and painter Violeta Parra. "She was Chile's Edith Piaf or Bob Dylan," stated Wood, who marks his second attempt for the large prize. His coming-of-age drama "Machuca" was Chile's entry for that 2005 Academy awards. Pic bowed August. 11 in Chile, where it rated within the top two spots throughout its first three days. "Violeta" doesn't have U.S. distribution or worldwide telemarketer up to now. The deadline for those nations to transmit within their distribution is March. 1. The 84th Oscars is going to be held February. 26 in the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com