Triumph for Polanski at French film awards

Roman Polanski's The Pianist swept the board at the annual French film awards. The film, which depicts life in the Warsaw ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland, won seven Cesars including best film and best director.

Michael Moore won the award for best foreign film with his anti-gun documentary, Bowling for Columbine. He received a standing ovation as he congratulated France for tempering the United States' approach towards Iraq in his acceptance speech, claiming that "there are millions of Americans" who feel the same as him. "Thanks for showing us the way, and for taking up a position on something very important," he said. "A real ally, a real friend, is someone who tells you when you're wrong."

Spike Lee also sent an anti-war message in his acceptance speech for his honorary career Cesar award, thanking the French for "knowing the difference between the American people and American foreign policy". Meryl Streep accepted her own career award Cesar, with a message delivered in French "in the spirit of international understanding".

8 Women, a murder mystery whose stars include Catherine Deneuve, was nominated for 12 Cesars but failed to win any.

Meanwhile, Polanski's co-producer on The Pianist, Lew Rywin, said he hoped bribery allegations against him would not tarnish the film's fame. Mr Rywin is under investigation in Poland over allegations he solicited a bribe from a publisher to lobby the government over media laws. He denies any wrongdoing.

"It is my dream that the media and the critics draw a thick dividing line between the scandal around me and the film," Mr Rywin told the Polish news agency PAP. "I would like the film to enjoy its own, fully merited glory."