Polish-born French director Roman Polanski smiles on video link after receiving the European director award for "The Ghost Writer" on December 4, 2010 at the 23rd European Film Awards in Tallinn. The European Film Awards were launched in 1988 and spurred by top European directors, including Ingmar Bergman and Wim Wenders -- the latter is president of the European Film Academy. The winners are chosen by the 2,300-strong academy, whose members include actors, critics, directors and producers. -Photo by AFP

LONDON: French-Polish director Roman Polanski's political thriller “The Ghost Writer” swept the European Film Awards on Saturday, picking up six prizes including best movie, director, actor and screenplay.

The annual awards, held this year in the Estonian capital Tallinn, also honoured Israeli war drama “Lebanon”, shot almost entirely from inside a tank. Lebanon won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice film festival in 2009.

Polanski, who spent several months this year under house arrest in Switzerland but avoided extradition to the United States in connection with a 1977 sex crime, did not attend the prize ceremony but appeared via Skype from his Paris home.

Polanski was named best director, the movie -- with a lead role loosely based on former British prime minister Tony Blair -- was best European film, its star Ewan McGregor picked up the best actor award and Polanski and Robert Harris won the best script writer category.

Following is a list of the main winners:

Best film - The Ghost Writer Best director - Roman Polanski/The Ghost Writer Best actress - Sylvie Testud/Lourdes Best actor - Ewan McGregor/The Ghost Writer Best screenwriter - Robert Harris and Roman Polanski/The Ghost Writer Best cinematographer - Giora Bejach/Lebanon Best editor - Luc Barnier and Marion Monnier/Carlos Best production designer - Albrecht Konrad/The Ghost Writer Best composer - Alexandre Desplat/The Ghost Writer European discovery - Lebanon Best documentary - Nostalgia de la Luz Best animated feature - The Illusionist Best short film - Hanoi - Warszawa Lifetime achievement award - Bruno Ganz, actor Achievement in world cinema - Gabriel Yared, composer People choice - Mr. Nobody.