Jakimowski also won another "Golden Lion" grand prize as producer of the film, which earlier this month garnered the Europa Cinemas Label for best European film in the Venice Days sidebar at the Venice Biennale. The grant prize is worth 50,000 zloty (13,000).

Tricks also collected the prize for best cinematography by Adam Bajerski.

Because of the high quality of many of the 21 competitors, festival participants say the jury had difficulty deciding among several candidates so there were no early favorites.

Two special jury prizes worth 15,000 zloty each were awarded for Louise's Garden directed by Maciej Wojtyszko and God's Little Garden directed by Jacek Bromski.

The Polish Filmmakers Association Award for creative representation of contemporary issues went to Absolute Beginner directed by Piotr Szczepański.

In the independent films competition which also had 21 competitors, the jury awarded the grand prize to Radosław Markiewicz for the film Paradise Too Far and commented on the improved quality of the films in competition.

"The jury notices an enhancement in the technical level and a competent narration among the awarded filmmakers, as well as a high, professional level of the student films," the jury said.

Sylwester Jakimow won the grand prize in the shorts competition for the film Kongola.

More than 1,300 guests attended the festival, including 145 foreign filmmakers. About 170 films were screened.