The drama "Ida" by Polish director Pavel Pavlikovski won the prize for best film Saturday at the European Film Awards in Riga, Latvia, beating out Danish director Lars von Trier's "Nymphomaniac" Volume I and II.

Pavlikovski's film depicts a novice nun who discovers shortly before entering the convent that she is actually Jewish. The movie will also be Poland's entry for best foreign language film at the upcoming Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.

"Ida" also won prizes for best director, cinematographer and screenwriter.

The last two winners of the European Film Prize for best picture - "La Grande Bellezza" ("The Great Beauty") and "Amour" - also went on to win best foreign language film honors at the Oscars.

French actress Marion Cotillard took home the prize for best actress for her role in the film "Two Days, One Night," while British actor Timothy Spall took home best actor honors for the lead role in the artist biopic "Mr. Turner."

Meanwhile, the German documentary "Master of the Universe," about the life of a Frankfurt banker, won the prize for best documentary.

The last time Germany won the European Film Award for best film was eight years ago, when Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck won the award for the Stasi drama "Das Leben Der Anderen" ("The Lives of Others").

bw/cmk (dpa, AFP)