"The Lives of Others", a drama about a secret policeman in Communist East Germany, won the top prize at the European Film Awards on Saturday held in Poland's capital.

The film beat Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's"Volver", which won five awards, including best director and best actress for Penelope Cruz."It means a lot to me to get this award here, since my father was born in this country," said Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck, the director of the winning film called"Das Leben Der Anderen" in German.

It was the first time the awards were held in ex-Communist Eastern Europe.