Director Roman Polanski was arrested by
Swiss police for possible extradition to the
United States.

Polanski, a French citizen, was flying in to
receive an honorary award at the Zurich Film Festival when he was apprehended Saturday at the airport,
the Swiss Justice Ministry said in a statement. It said U.S. authorities have sought
the arrest of the 76-year-old around the world since 2005.

The Swiss Directors Association sharply
criticized authorities for what it deemed
"not only a grotesque farce of justice, but also
an immense cultural scandal."