Polanski to get 2009 film award

ZURICH – Director Roman Polanski is to collect an award from the Zurich Film Festival intended for him in 2009, when he was arrested…

ZURICH – Director Roman Polanski is to collect an award from the Zurich Film Festival intended for him in 2009, when he was arrested en route to the ceremony on charges related to a sex crime more than 30 years ago, organisers have said.

The Oscar-winning director, who holds dual French and Polish citizenship, was arrested at the request of the US when he flew into Switzerland on September 26th, 2009, when he was due to pick up a lifetime achievement award.

The ceremony will be followed by the premiere of a non-fiction film, but no further details will be released until September 27th, organisers said yesterday.

“We are especially proud to welcome Roman Polanski this year to receive his award,” directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht said. – (Reuters)