Golden Bear for Elite Squad

A controversial drama about police corruption and violence in Brazil has reportedly won the prestigious Golden Bear award for best film at the 58th Berlin Film Festival.

For many, the film was a surprise winner over the hotly-tipped oil-and-religion epic There Will Be Blood, which stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Little Miss Sunshine's Paul Dano.

Elite Squad has caused a sensation in Brazil, with its portrayal of a violent police unit willing to torture and kill in their battle against the country's drug lords and widespread internal corruption. Around 11.5 million people in Brazil have reportedly seen the film on pirated DVD.

In other awards, the Silver Bear for the Jury Grand Prix went to Standard Operating Procedure by Errol Morris, a documentary looking at torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

Best director went to Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood, while Iranian performer Reza Najie took the best actor prize.

British actress Sally Hawkins, whose credits include Little Britain, Tipping The Velvet and gangster flick Layer Cake, took the Silver Bear for best actress for her performance in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky.

Overall, 21 films were in competition at this year's festival.

Titles related to this article

Related/similar articles

• Top 10 Emily Watson (12 April 2010)
• Leigh returning to Berlin film festival as jury president (2 December 2011)
• Garfield surprises Spider-Man fans at trailer screening (7 February 2012)
• Breslin to play ghost hero in Haunter (4 April 2012)
• Sir Roger Moore: 'Daniel Craig is the best Bond' (27 August 2012)
• Paul Dano's sickness worked well for new film role (31 August 2012)