The Elite Squad, the story of corrupt police officers supposed to be fighting drug crime in Brazil, has won top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Known as Tropa de elite in Brazil, the film is directed by José Padilha, who made the gripping documentary Bus 174  — which investigated the life of the man who hijacked a Rio de Janeiro bus in June 2000.

"You made a courageous film about corruption in the police in Brazil," producer Marcos Prado said, praising Padilha as the pair accepted the award.

Director Jose Padilha poses with the Golden Bear award for best movie during Saturday's prize ceremony at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival.
(Tobias Schwarz / Associated Press)

The film beat off several strong contenders such as the British comedy Happy-Go-Lucky, the French film I've Loved You So Long, the Ben Kingsley vehicle Elegy and the Oscar-nominated epic There Will Be Blood to nab the Golden Bear.

There was a consolation prize of sorts for There Will Be Blood, whose director, Paul Thomas Anderson, captured the Silver Bear prize for best direction.

Reza Naji won best actor for The Song of Sparrows and Sally Hawkins best actress for Happy-Go-Lucky.

"My legs have gone. I'm on the edge of tears as you can hear," Hawkins told the audience. "Ultimately, I want to thank an exceptional human being who is [director] Mike Leigh. This is for Mike."

Prior to the award announcement on Saturday, there appeared to be no clear consensus among critics about the 21 pictures that were screened in competition for the 58th instalment of the festival.

"On paper, the competition had looked more impressive than it had in several years, though in practice some [festival] names have failed to deliver challenging or innovative fare," trade publication Variety said.

The U.S. documentary Standard Operating Procedure, which examines the torture of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, won the jury grand prize.

Other winners included:

• Best Script: Wang Xiaoshuai for Zuo You (In Love We Trust).
• Best First Feature: Asyl – Park and Love Hotel by Kumasaka Izuru.
• Best International Short Film: O zi buna de plaja by Bogdan Mustata.

Italian director Francesco Rosi was bestowed a Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement. The 85-year-old auteur was honoured for his 50-year career.

"With their explosive power, Rosi's films are still persuasive today. His works are classics of politically engaged cinema," Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick said in a statement.
 
Rosi's Salvatore Giuliano (1961) won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the festival in 1962.