Montenegro's ministry of culture has selected Igla ispod praga (The Black Pin) by first-time feature director Ivan Marinovic as the country's submission in the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

The comedy was co-produced by Montenegro's Adriatic Western and Serbia's EED Productions and premiered in the competition of the Sarajevo International Film Festival last month.

The Black Pin centers on Peter, an orthodox priest who returns to his idyllic village in Montenegro to take care of his sick mother.

Soon enough, however, he runs afoul of other villagers when he declines to join them in selling their land to a foreign investor and has to deal with superstition, ignorance and corruption.

The Black Pin is Montenegro's fourth Oscar submission since the country became independent in 2006.

None of the three previous entries has been shortlisted in the best foreign-language film category.