BERLIN, Feb 13: American independent film "Monster" and its star Charlize Theron were the hot tips on Friday for the Berlin International Film Festival Awards ahead of the event's climax on Saturday.

The low-budget Patty Jenkins film starring Theron as a prostitute serial killer has drawn rave reviews from international critics polled by German newspapers and is widely expected to scoop the prestigious Golden Bear award for best film. The winner will be announced on Saturday afternoon.

Films in competition for awards at the Film Fest include:

"20:30:40", Sylvia Chang, Taiwan/Hong Kong

"25 Degres En Hiver" (25 Degrees In Winter), Stephane Vuillet, Belgium/France/Spain

"Ae Fond Kiss", Ken Loach, Britain

"Beautiful Country", Hans Petter Moland, Norway/USA

"Before Sunset", Richard Linklater, USA

"Cold Mountain", Anthony Minghella, USA (out of competition)

"Confidences Trop Intimes" (Intimate Strangers), Patrice Leconte, France

"Country Of My Skull", John Boorman, Britain

"Die Nacht Singt Ihre Lieder" (Nightsongs), Romuald Karmakar, Germany

"El Abrazo Partido" (Lost Embrace), Daniel Burman, Argentina

"Feux rouges" (Red Lights), Cedric Kahn, France

"Forbrydelser" (In Your Hands), Annette K. Olesen, Denmark

"Gegen Die Wand" (Head-On), Fatih Akin, Germany/ Turkey

"La Vida Que Te Espera" (Your Next Life), Manuel Gutierrez Aragon, Spain

"Lightning In A Bottle", Antoine Fuqua, USA (out of competition)

"Maria, Llena De Gracia" (Maria Full of Grace), Joshua Marston, USA/Colombia

"Monster", Patty Jenkins, USA

"Om Jag Vander Mig Om" (Daybreak), Bjorn Runge, Sweden

"Primo Amore" (First Love), Matteo Garrone, Italy

"Samaria" (Samaritan Girl), Kim Ki-Duk, Korea

"Something's Gotta Give" Nancy Meyers, USA (out of competition)

"Svedoci" (Witnesses), Vinko Bres?an, Croatia

"The Final Cut", Omar Naim, USA. -Reuters/dpa