Jerry Skolimowski’s Afghanistan set drama picked up six awards including the top prize.

Essential Killing was the triumph of the 36th Polish Film Festival, taking home a total of six awards. 

Jerzy Skolimowski’s tale of desperation set in Afghanistan won the highest accolade; The Grand Award ‘The Golden Lions’, as well as prizes including best director and best cinematography.

The festival, held June 6-11 in Gdynia, celebrates the best of Polish Cinema, with 12 titles competing in the main competition.

Other winners included Jan Komasa’s story about a boy who gets trapped in the world a dangerous internet community, Suicide Room, which picked up the Silver Lions’ Prize.Lech Majewski’s The Mill And The Cross based on the novel by Michael Gibson, scooped the Special Prize of The Jury as well as best costume and best sound.

Marcin Dorociński was named best actor for his performance in Wojciech Smarzowski’s Rose, with Roma Gąsiorowska claiming the best actress prize for her performance in Leszek Dawid’s My Name Is Ki.