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Iranian movie winner at film festival

BERLIN, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Iranian drama "Nader and Simin, a Separation," took the top award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The film won the Golden Bear for best picture at ceremonies in Berlin Saturday, Daily Variety reported.

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The film is about repression in modern-day Iran and the plight of filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who was sentenced to six years in prison on propaganda charges in December. He had been invited to serve on the jury for this year's awards before his conviction.

Other winners included Ulrich Koehler, who received a Silver Bear for best director for his drama "Sleeping Sickness." Hungary's Bela Tarr won the Jury Grand Prize for "The Turin Horse."

Also winning Silver Bears were Joshua Marston and Andamion Murataj, for their screenplay for "The Forgiveness of Blood," an Albanian-set drama.

Cinematographer Wojciech Staron and production designer Barbara Enriquez also received Silver Bears for outstanding contribution for their efforts on Paula Markovitch's "The Prize."

German director Andres Veil received the Alfred Bauer Prize for "If Not Us, Who," which examines the origin of West German terrorism.

Actress Isabella Rossellini presided over the competition's jury.

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