Renowned film director Andrzej Wajda dies

Oscar-winning Polish film director Andrzej Wajda has died aged 90, the Polish Filmmakers' Association has confirmed. He made more than 40 films in a career spanning 60 years. Wajda had recently been taken to hospital, with reports saying he died of lung failure. Many of his films, including Kanal, Man of Iron, and Katyn, were inspired by Poland's turbulent wartime and communist history. His father was among the victims of the 1940 Katyn massacre. Other films, such as Wesele (The Wedding, 1972) and Ziemia Obiecana (The Promised Land, 1974), were inspired by Polish literature. In 2000, Wajda was awarded an honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema. Wajda's last film – Powidoki (Afterimage), released this year, is Poland's entry for best foreign-language film at the 2017 Oscars. Four of Wajda's earlier works had been nominated for that category. Man of Iron won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1981. "I never thought I would live to see the moment when Poland was a free country. I thought I would die in that system. It was so surprising and so extraordinary that I lived to see freedom." Wajda said in a 2007 interview with the Associated Press.