Polanski's 'Ghost Writer' steals the show at Europe's Oscars

The 60th Berlin Film Festival wrapped up after crowning Roman Polanski best director for the political thriller "The Ghost Writer" and giving the Golden Bear top prize to a Turkish family drama.Polanski, 76, missed the world premiere of his film at the Berlinale, the first major international cinema showcase of the year, due to his house arrest in Switzerland where he is fighting extradition to the United States over a 1977 case of sex with a 13-year-old girl.The Silver Bear trophy was accepted by a producer of the film, Alain Sarde, at a gala ceremony late Saturday.

Roman Polanski's political thriller "The Ghost Writer" picked up the critics' award for best picture as the San Sebastian film festival got underway here Friday.Polanski "is an author in every sense" and "every aspect of this prize is his," said British actress Olivia Williams, who accepted the Fipresci Grand Prix 2010 award on behalf of the film.The International Federation of Film Critics? (FIPRESCI) 296 members worldwide selected the film, which also won Polanski the best director prize at the Berlinale in February, as the top movie of the year.

Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" is among the front-runners for the top prize at the 60th Berlin Film Festival this week, despite his glaring absence at the event due to his ongoing house arrest.As the 11-day festival, the first major world cinema showcase of the year, hit the halfway mark Tuesday, critics had shortlisted Polanski's political thriller based on the British bestseller "The Ghost" for the Golden Bear award.

The new movie by Roman Polanski, currently under house arrest in Switzerland, will get its world premiere and be in competition at the Berlin film festival in February, organisers said Tuesday.The Oscar-winning director of "Chinatown" -- and of the new "The Ghost Writer" -- is confined to a Swiss chalet after being detained in September when he arrived in Switzerland to collect an award at the Zurich film festival.

Roman Polanski's political thriller "The Ghost Writer" and gritty dramas from Romania and Russia were tipped as favourites to win the Golden Bear top prize Saturday at the 60th Berlin Film Festival.A seven-member jury led by German director Werner Herzog ("Fitzcarraldo") and including Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger are to crown the best of 20 features vying for the coveted award at a glittering ceremony at 1830 GMT.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The producers of the Academy Awards have good news for those watching at home: They're trying to cut out the boring parts.

Roman Polanski's new film "The Ghost Writer" premieres Friday at the 60th Berlin Film Festival but the director, under house arrest in Switzerland, will be a no-show at the red-carpet gala."The Ghost Writer" stars Pierce Brosnan as a former British prime minister closely resembling Tony Blair who hires a journalist (Ewan McGregor) to help him pen his memoirs.

Megastar Aamir Khan's hit movie "3 Idiots" is set to sweep the board at the "Bollywood Oscars" in Sri Lanka this weekend, after scooping a string of awards in the technical categories.The film -- a coming-of-age comedy about three struggling students at a top engineering college -- has been nominated in 12 of the 13 main categories in the Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) awards.It has already won eight of the 12 technical awards announced last month, including Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.