Poland takes home its first Oscar

A starkly-lit black-and-white film based during Eastern Europe's Cold War years is the unlikely toast of tinseltown after securing Poland its first Oscar.

Pawel Pawlikowski, left, and Nicole Kidman pose in the press room with the award for best foreign language film for Ida at the Oscars.

The Academy Award for Ida has sparked widespread celebration across the globe from Hollywood to Warsaw.

Paweł Pawlikowski described Ida as a film of quiet contemplation, but there was no silencing the Polish director in his exuberant Oscars acceptance speech.

“I'm surprised and overwhelmed,” he said.

“… To my Polish friends who are in front of the TV, the crew, who were in the trenches with us and who are totally drunk now - you were fantastic. You were brilliant, you carried me through this film and you are what I love about Poland. Resilient courage is brave and funny and you can take a drink."

The black-and-white movie took home the prize for the best foreign language film.

Set in 1962, the film follows novice Polish nun Anna as she learns of her Jewish heritage and her parents’ murder during Germany's occupation of her homeland in World War Two.

The Oscar is a first for Poland, and the country's film makers and politicians have hailed its success.