The director will return to the scene of his dramatic arrest in 2009 to collect the lifetime achievement award that was intended for him two years ago, but which he was never able to pick up due to his arrest en route to the festival.

Roman Polanski is to make a surprise appearance at the upcoming Zurich Film Festival to collect the lifetime achievement award he was meant to receive two years ago.

Polanski was on his way to the Zurich Film Festival in 2009 to give a masterclass and collect his award, when he was arrested by Swiss police in connection with a charge of having sex with a 13 year old girl which was brought against him 33 years ago in LA.

But Polanksi was declared a free man in July last year, after officials revealed that they would not be extraditing him to the US.

The tribute, which will take place on September 27, will be followed by a surprise world premiere. The director has made it clear he won’t be giving any interviews during the festival and the festival organisers have said they will not comment on the case.

“We are especially proud to welcome Roman Polanski this year to receive his award“, said Zurich Film Festival directors Karl Spoerri and Nadja Schildknecht. “We have always been tremendous admirers of his work and we are delighted that we will soon be able to express this to him in person.”

 

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