Brazilian Film Shines and Wins a Golden Bear

The Elite Squad, directed by Jose Padilha has won the Golden Bear at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival. Reza Naji won best actor for The Song of Sparrows and Sally Hawkins picked up the best actress prize for the Mike Leigh directed Happy-Go-Lucky.

The 58th incarnation of the festival saw the festival assume a new direction. There were decidedly less stars than in 2007 when the likes of Matt Damon put in an appearance. And the star vehicles this year were more in line with the artistic, edgy feel that is the heart of the Berlinale. Daniel Day-Lewis turned up as did Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johansson, Martin Scorsese as well as essentially a whose who of rock and pop including The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, and Madonna. -Rita Johnson