The film was submitted as Austria 's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards , but was disqualified as French is not predominantly the language of Austria . As Haneke is Austrian , it would have also been disqualified if France or any other country had submitted it . The exclusion sparked criticism , with Sony Pictures Classics co-president Michael Barker calling it " unfortunate " and saying the story demanded the film be in French . Austria 's Fachverband der Audiovisions und Filmindustrie protested the criteria , and Haneke , whose previous French-language '' The Piano Teacher '' was not disqualified as the Austrian submission , also called the rules " really stupid " . Academy member Mark Johnson responded , " We 're in the process right now of considering some very radical changes "
78th Academy Awards
78th Academy Awards
Caché (film)