Docu-drama Caesar Must Die, in which murderers and mafiosi act out a Shakespearean tragedy in a high-security Italian jail, won the Golden Bear award for best picture at the Berlin film festival Saturday.

The black-and-white movie, called Cesare deve morire in Italian and directed by veteran brothers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, was among the favorites to scoop the coveted honor.

The Tavianis - Paolo is 80 and Vittorio 82 - followed a group of convicts in the Rebibbia jail on the outskirts of Rome as they rehearsed Julius Caesar for a prison production.

The play's themes of power and corruption, murder and vengeance clearly resonate with hardened convicts serving sentences of between 14 years and life, resulting in moving performances from a mostly untrained cast.

The Golden Bear, which can help launch a film onto the international stage as it did the feted Iranian drama A Separation in 2011, is the Tavianis' biggest award since Padre Padrone won the Palme d'Or in Cannes 35 years ago.

The prize ceremony brought to a close the 10-day cinema showcase, where hundreds of films vied for the attention of the world's media and movie executives at the European Film Market.

Once again, festival director Dieter Kosslick had to juggle getting established stars on the red carpet with selecting hard-hitting, low-budget films that might otherwise struggle for audiences.

Critics said he just about managed it in 2012, with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep and Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson drawing big crowds to the festival's central cinema.

The main competition of 18 movies was generally viewed as an improvement on recent years, and the Taviani brothers are likely to be popular winners for their well-received entry.

Reuters