Arts·Q with Tom Power

Matthew Rankin's Universal Language combines classic Iranian cinema with Winnipeg

The experimental Canadian director sits down with Q's Tom Power to discuss his new film, which was recently selected as Canada's pick for best international feature film at the 2025 Oscars.

The film is up for best international feature film at the 2025 Oscars

Matthew Rankin wearing over-ear headphones, sitting in front of a studio microphone.
Matthew Rankin in the Q studio in Toronto. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

Matthew Rankin is a Canadian director whose new film Universal Language has just been selected as Canada's pick for best international feature film at the 2025 Oscars. It's set in an alternate version of Winnipeg where Canada's two official languages are French and Farsi, not English. Rankin drops by the Q studio to chat with Tom Power about his vision for this surreal film that he directed and starred in.

WATCH | Official trailer for Universal Language:

The full interview with Matthew Rankin is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.


Interview with Matthew Rankin produced by Lise Hosein.