Milos Forman, who directed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, was honoured with a lifetime-achievement award.

BBC: Ben Affleck wins Directors Guild award

But Mr Antal has learned the lessons of east European cinematic realism, a school that encompasses stylists as different as Mr Polanski, Andrzej Wajda, Milos Forman and Krzysztof Kieslowski.

ECONOMIST: A flawless horror-thriller. Watch it if you dare