The Polish candidate for best foreign language film is All That I Love, directed by Jacek Borcuch and produced by Prasa & Film (www.prasaifilm.pl ) but because Essential Killing has no dialogue it can compete outside this category.

"Essential Killing is a masterpiece," Odorowicz said, "a film from a director who creates cinema that is artistic and formally tasteful. It is worth pointing out that Vincent Gallo was awarded for best actor even though the movie has no dialogue. It is a universal story about a man who is terrified and fights for his life."

The film was financed by the Polish Film Institute (www.pisf.pl), produced by Skopia Film of Poland (www.skopiafilm.com ), Hungary's Mythberg Films (www.mythbergfilms.hu ), Ireland's Element Pictures and Norwegian Cylinger Productions. Hanway Films (www.hanwayfilms.com ) is handling international sales.