The French-language drama, which was chosen by Austria to vie for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, also won best director for Michael Haneke and best actress for Emmannuelle Riva who portrayed an aging wife in the film.

The flick, which deals with an elderly couple's adaptation to the senility, is a co-production between companies in Austria, France and Germany. It won the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Gannes Film Festival and harvested high praise during the awards season.

The best actor went to Daniel Day-Lewis, who played the 16th U. S. president in Steven Spielberg's epic "Lincoln." Matthew McConaughey was named best supporting actor for his role in "Magic Mike" and "Berne." Amy Adams, who stars as Peggy Dodd in Paul Thomas Anderson's new film "The Master," landed the best supporting actress award.

Tony Kushner from "Lincoln" was honored with best screenplay, while Mihai Malaimare, Jr. from "The Master" garnered best cinematography.

"The Gatekeepers," a documentary about the Israeli security forces, was named best nonfiction film. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's piece "This Is Not a Film" won for the experimental film.

Since its founding in 1966, NSFC winners have seldom translated their victories into the Academy Awards honors. Only five times has its winner gone on to reap the top Oscar.