MUMBAI: Film folks from France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and Hollywood are terrified about last week‘s arrest of Oscar-winning film director Roman Polanski when he flew into Zurich to receive an honorary award from the city‘s international film festival.

Several high profile industry names, such as Harvey Weinstein and Debra Winger, have come out in support of Polanski.

Polanski faces extradition charges from Switzerland to the US for having pleaded guilty in 1978 to having sex with a 13-year old girl in Los Angeles. He fled America shortly thereafter and has been a French citizen ever since.

The French government has asked the US to release the 76-year old director immediately.