Mexico has selected Despues de Lucia (After Lucia) as its foreign-language Oscar entry, the sophomore work of Michel Franco about high school bullying, The Hollywood Reporter said.

After Lucia had its world premiere earlier this year at Cannes, where it won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard sidebar. Writer-director Franco has made a name for himself on the Croisette. His freshman feature, Daniel & Ana, premiered in Directors Fortnight at Cannes in 2009.

Mexico's Lemon Films, Filmadora Nacional and France's Stromboli produced After Lucia, with Paris-based Bac Films handling sales.

After Lucia will be looking to become Mexico's first film to win an Oscar in the foreign-language category as it vies to score a nomination for the 85th Academy Awards. The picture is also Mexico's foreign film submission for Spain's 27th Goya Awards.

Eight Mexican films have landed foreign-lingo Oscar nominations since 1960, including recent works of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Biutiful) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth).