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BERLIN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Violent Brazilian film "The Elite Squad" ("Tropa De Elite") won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday in what is likely to be a controversial decision by the jury.
The movie, already a hit in Brazil, portrays corruption, violence and murder within a crack squad of Rio policemen battling armed drug dealers in the city slums.
The movie, which beat out pre-award favourites from Hollywood and Britain to win the coveted golden bear for best film, divided the critics.
Some praised it as a powerful portrayal of the moral compromises the police accept in order to survive and do their job, but others said it glorified their dubious methods. One called it a "recruitment film for fascist thugs".
At the glitzy awards ceremony in central Berlin, producer Marcos Prado told director Jose Padilha: "You made a courageous film about corruption in the police (force) in Brazil."
The ceremony brings to a close 11 days of screenings, red carpet premieres and deal making at Europe's first major film festival of the year.
The main competition lineup included 21 entries, but nearly 400 movies were showcased in all sections of the festival.
The runner up award went to "Standard Operating Procedure", a documentary by U.S. director Errol Morris exploring the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison.
Best actor went to Iran's Reza Naji in "The Song of Sparrows", a film about how a man's rural idyll is threatened by material temptations thrown in his path in the big city.
Britain's Sally Hawkins was named best actress, as the critics had predicted, for her portrayal of the infectiously optimistic school teacher Poppy in "Happy-Go-Lucky".
"My legs have gone, I'm on the edge of tears as you can hear," Hawkins told the packed Berlinale Palast. "Ultimately, I want to thank an exceptional human being who is (director) Mike Leigh. This is for Mike."
Paul Thomas Anderson of the United States won the best director silver bear for "There Will Be Blood", the pre-awards favourite to take the best film golden bear.
The movie, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a greedy and determined oil prospector in early 20th Century America, has won many prizes already and has been nominated for eight Oscars.
As always, several out-of-competition films made the biggest headlines, including a world premiere for Martin Scorsese's "Shine a Light".
The concert film of the Rolling Stones ensured the veteran British rockers and acclaimed U.S. director were on the red carpet for a starry first night.
Patti Smith was in town for a documentary about her life and Madonna presented her directorial debut "Filth & Wisdom", which several critics said was as poor as her worst performances in front of the camera.