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HONG KONG -- Gay love story "The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros" (Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros) has been selected as the Philippines' official entry for the Academy Awards' foreign-language film category. Nomination by the Film Academy of the Philippines was announced Friday.

Pic, which had Stateside preem in the World Cinema: Dramatic section at Sundance, is the debut feature effort from helmer Auraeus Solito, who shot it on digital.

Heartwarming story features a 12-year-old boy who takes on the role of mother in his petty criminal family and becomes conflicted when he falls for a hunky cop.

Since its Philippines bow at the 2005 Cinemalaya fest bow, "Maximo" has been a regular prize-winner on the fest circuit, picking up significant awards at Berlin, Rotterdam and Hong Kong.

It also screened at Cinefan in Delhi, Singapore's Asian Fest of First Films, Spain's Las Palmas fest and at events in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

International rights are repped by France's Wide Management.