German film "The Lives of Others" won the best picture award at the European Film Awards here Saturday, while director Roman Polanski received a lifetime achievement award.

The film was also honored with two more awards -- the best actor and the best screenwriter awards.

Spanish Pedro Almodovar won the best director award for his film "Volver," a comic drama that explores the culture of death in Almodovar's hometown. And Volver pushed 32-year-old actress Penelope Cruz on the road to winning the best actress award.

The annual European Film Academy, sponsored by the European Film Academy, has handed out the awards since 1988. Last year, the best movie award went to Austrian director Michael Haneke for "Hidden" at a gala in Berlin.

Source: Xinhua