Theron also scooped a Golden Globe for her role in Monster

Awards went to both Sandlino Moreno for Maria Full of Grace and Charlize Theron for Monster.

Head On took the Golden Bear for best film, South Korean Kim Ki-duk won best director for Samaritan Girl and actor Daniel Hendler won for Lost Embrace.

Other films had been considered favourites, but the Berlinale jury is renowned for unpredictability.

Head On was the first German film to win in Berlin since 1986.

A joint German-Turkish production, it chronicles the life of Sibel, a young German born to Turkish parents who escapes her conservative Muslim family by marrying a heavy-drinking punk.

A total of 23 films had been entered for competition in the nine-day festival which also screened many more.

Tragic winners

BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL PRIZES Best film: Head On Best director: Kim Ki-duk (above), Samaritan Girl Best actor: Daniel Hendler, Lost Embrace Best actress: Sandlino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace and Charlize Theron, Monster

The awards jury, led by Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand, awarded the Silver Bear film award to Lost Embrace, which tells the story of a young Argentine Jew trying to get to Europe.

Kim's film, Samaritan Girl, looked at a teenage girl's sexual exploitation and the murderous rage it induces in her father.

Theron, whose portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos has also won her an Oscar nomination, was seen to be up against Australian actor Cate Blanchett in The Missing and Frenchwoman Julie Delpy in Before Sunset.

Earlier, the festival's director Dieter Kosslick had praised Before Sunset - but he was not on the jury for the Golden Bear best film award.