Award winners at Polish Film Academy Awards last night; photo - PAP

Essential Killing by Jerzy Skolimowski received an ‘Eagle’ at the Polish Film Academy Awards ceremony last night in the Best Film category. Skolimowski was also judged ‘Best Director’ in what are regarded as the Polish Oscars.

The award tops off a great year for the film, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film festival last year. It tells the story of a man captured by American forces and transported to an unnamed eastern European country.

Paul Mykietyn also won a Best Music award for his work in the film.

At the award ceremony last night, Minister of Culture presented Bogdan Zdrojewski also presented the Life Time Acheivement Award to Tadeusz Chmielewski, the 83 year-old veteran director, screenwriter and producer of 1971’s Nie lubię poniedziałku (I don’t like Mondays) and Wierna rzeka (Faithful River, 1981).

The Best Actor award went to Robert Więckiewicz for his role in Różyczka (Rose) and Urszula Grabowska won an Eagle for Best Actress in Joanna.

Best European Film went to Roman Polanski’s Ghost Writer. (pg)