Here in Poland, the 2011 Gdynia Film Festival wrapped up on Saturday. Celebrating its 36th year, the festival showcases the best of Polish and eastern European cinema, featuring work by established and emerging film makers. “Essential Killing” received the Golden Lions first prize in this year's Main Competition. Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, the film tells the story of a young suspected insurgent (played by Vincent Gallo) who is captured in Afghanistan. After being transported...

Jerzy Skolimowski is a busy man these days. The Polish director's latest film Essential Killing made headlines this autumn when it won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, and the film's lead, Vincent Gallo, took the prize for best actor. The film was released in Poland in October, and audiences have been filling cinemas to see what is admittedly a unique film in terms of story and style. In the following interview, Mr. Skolimowski discusses the origins of the film, the funding ...