Austria welcomes Oscar "hat-trick"

Austria scored a hat-trick this year, with three of its countrymen nominated for an Oscar, including "Inglourious Basterds" star Christoph Waltz, commentators praised on Wednesday.

"This is a hat-trick, not just for Michael Haneke's "The White Ribbon" but also for Austrian cinema," the Film and Music Industry trade association said after nominations were announced in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

"The White Ribbon," directed by Austria's Haneke and co-produced by the small alpine country, was nominated as best foreign language picture for Germany, while its Tyrolean cinematographer Christian Berger also won a surprise nod.

Waltz, who has swept awards as the devilish Nazi officer in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," was nominated as expected in the best supporting actor category.

"After an almost unbelievable streak, this confirms the enormous international significance of Austrian cinema," noted Film Institute director Roland Teichmann.

The small country scored its first big Oscar success in 2008 when "The Counterfeiters" won the golden statuette as best foreign-language film.

Last year, another Austrian film, "Revanche," was again nominated in that category.

"I am really excited," Berger told the Austria Press Agency, after hearing he was nominated.

"I think we'll allow ourselves a little drink tonight," he added.

The ever discreet Haneke only communicated a few sentences via his producer, Veit Heiduschka: "If it turns into something, I will be very happy."

"With the Golden Palm, I already received the top artistic award, now if the "commercial" side, the Oscar Academy, also thinks me worthy, that will obviously be a great honour."