BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand has selected a gay-themed drama, "How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)," as a contender for the foreign-language category at the 88th Academy Awards.

The movie is about an 11-year-old boy being raised by his gay, older brother in a poor Bangkok suburb.

Directed by Korean-American Josh Kim, the Thai-language film "has successfully been able to raise issues that people in Thailand don't openly talk about," said Weerasak Kowsurat, secretary-general of the National Federation of Thai Motion Picture and Content Associations.

He said a committee from the federation chose the film from among 59 contenders on Tuesday and submitted it Thursday as Thailand's selection for the Oscars foreign-language category.

The film was screened at the Berlin Film Festival this year, and was released in July in Thailand.