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German film wins 'Europe Oscars' Stasi film in European awards win
(about 23 hours later)
A German film, The Lives of Others, about a secret policeman in the former East Germany, has won best film at the European Film Awards in Warsaw, Poland. A film about a secret policeman in the former East Germany has taken top prize at the European Film Awards in Warsaw.
It beat the Spanish film Volver by Pedro Almodovar - which still took five awards, including best director and best actress for Penelope Cruz. The Lives of Others - or Das Leben Der Anderen - beat Spanish production Volver by Pedro Almodovar, although this still came top in five categories.
It is the first time the ceremony was held in an eastern European country. These included best director for Almodovar, top actress for Penelope Cruz plus the people's choice award.
Filmmaker Roman Polanski returned to his homeland to receive a lifetime achievement award. Oscar-winning film-maker Roman Polanski also returned to his Polish homeland to collect a lifetime achievement award.
'Changed my life'
The Lives of Others is a drama about how East Germany's secret police, the Stasi, destroyed the lives of ordinary people.The Lives of Others is a drama about how East Germany's secret police, the Stasi, destroyed the lives of ordinary people.
Director Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck told the audience it meant a lot to win the award in Poland, "since my father was born in this country". Ulrich Muehe won the best actor trophy for his portrayal of a policeman who becomes engrossed in a playwright and his girlfriend, both of whom he is spying on.
Another director returning to his roots was Roman Polanski. Volver won five awards, with Cruz (right) thanking Almodovar (left)Director Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, who also won the best screenplay, told the audience it meant a lot to win the award in Poland, "since my father was born in this country".
The Oscar-winning director said it was a moving experience for him to return to Poland. Polanski was equally gracious about his accolade, saying that it was a "moving" occasion because "only good things" happened to him in Warsaw.
He dedicated the award to Penelope Cruz and her co-stars, actresses who he said represented "the incredible women that surrounded me when I was a child". "When I was working in a theatre as a child in Krakow after the war, we came here once, and I won an award at a festival," he said.
Cruz dedicated her best actress prize - for her role as a mother who covers up the murder of her husband - to Almodovar.
"Thank you so much for giving me the chance to play this part," she said. "You have changed my career and my life."