Polanski in public

Polanski, who was released from house arrest earlier this week, was mobbed by photographers as he arrived at the concert with heavy security.

Before the show on Saturday, the 76-year-old film director of "The Pianist" and "Chinatown" told Swiss television station TSR that he was uncertain about his immediate plans.

"For the moment I'm happy to be free," he said. Polanski thanked the inhabitants of the town of Gstaad in southeastern Switzerland, for their support since he was placed under house arrest at his luxury chalet there last year.

Polanski said he maintained "a great friendship for Switzerland and above all ... for its people who solidly supported me."

His wife, 44-year-old French actress and singer Emmanuelle Seigner began her performance at the festival with the theme song from Polanski's 1968 film "Rosemary's Baby."

US to continue to seek "justice"

Polanski was arested in Zurich last September where he had been invited to receive a film festival achievement award, on the basis of a US extradition request.

Earlier this week, Swiss authorities refused the request by the US to extradite Polanski to the United States to face sentencing for having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

US officials said they were "disappointed" by the Swiss decision and would continue to seek "justice," while international police agency Interpol said on Tuesday that Polanski was still listed as wanted.

France, where Polanski is a long-term resident, has no extradition treaty with the United States that covers the offense. Poland, where Polanksi also has citizenship, has said it would not extradite him.

Richard Connor (Reuters/AFP/AP)
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar