We present the list of winners of the 17th Melbourne Underground Film Festival that took place from September 9th – 17th in Melbourne, Australia.
Best Film
Crime and Punishment by Andrew O´Keefe – Australia | 2015 – 110 min.
When a desperate and disillusioned PhD student commits premeditated murder in the name of a theory, he finds that his soul can only be saved through the love of a religious prostitute. But will he confess in time or will the cunning police investigator ruin his chance at salvation? A dark tale based on the classic Russian novel of salvation and destruction. A remake of a classic tale from a local team.
Best Film Runner Up
Revenge of the Gweilo by Nathan Hill – Australia | 2014 – 90 min.
An ex-cop goes on a rampage after his fiance is killed by the Asian mafia.
Special Jury Prize
SheBorg Massacre by Daniel Armstrong – Australia | 2016 – 90 min.
Self styled tough-girl and punk activist Dylan loves fighting for a cause… literally any cause will do (much to the chagrin of her BFF Eddie). When an alien fugitive crash lands into a local puppy farm and begins turning people into machines that feed on puppy flesh, Dylan has to decide if she believes in any cause enough to risk her life, take on the SheBorg menace, and save the world.
A Night Of Horror Volume 1 by Enzo Tedeschi – Australia | 2015 – 88 min.
Whether you’re a fan of the festival, or just a fan of the best and bloodiest in new horror cinema, you can’t afford to miss the world premiere of this fright-filled anthology. Zombies, demonic entities, self-surgery, cannibalism and more await in the dark corners of this terrifying offering from some of the most talented filmmakers working in the genre today. WYRMWOOD’S Bianca Bradley stars, and leads you through a pulse-charging night of cinematic horror.
Best Director
Addison Heath for the film The Perfect Nonsense – Australia | 2016
Jaythan Rubin, an awkward and socially anxious twenty-something meets Bethany “G-Code” Jones, a hardcore gangsta rapper. Together they wander an absurd landscape.
Crime and Punishment by Andrew O´Keefe – Australia | 2015 – 110 min.
Best Screenplay
Crime and Punishment by Andrew O´Keefe – Australia | 2015 – 110 min.
(Based on the Novel by Dostoyevski)
Best Actress
Daisy Masterman and Whitney Duff for their role in SheBorg Massacre by Daniel Armstrong
Australia | 2016 – 90 min.
BestActor
Lee Mason for his role in Crime and Punishment by Andrew O´Keefe
Australia | 2015 – 110 min.
Best Supporting Actress
Tritia DeViSha for her roles in Mui Karaoke (by Dee Choi) and
Revenge of the Gweilo! (Nathan Hill)
Best Supporting Actor
Glenn Maynard for his role in The Perfect Nonsense by Addison Heath – Australia | 2016
Best Cinematography
David Richardson for the film Stressed to Kill by Mark Savage – Australia, US | 2016 – 111 min.
After suffering a violent heart attack, Bill is advised by his doctor to lower his blood pressure by eliminating the stresses from his life. Taking his doctor’s advice literally, Bill starts killing everyday people who irritate him with poisoned darts. The killings lower Bill’s blood pressure for a while but attract the attention of Detective Jordan, an enigmatic cop who plays a strange cat and mouse game with Bill as he tries to decide whether he should arrest him or join him in his campaign. As the cop begins to make Bill’s life a living hell, stresses closer to home ramp up his blood pressure.
Best Documentary
Rock in a Hard Place by Todwina J. Moore – Australia
Australia has always been the home of people defying the mainstream. Todwina’s ROCK IN A HARD PLACE presents an award-winning look back into the history of underground music that has come from South Australia over the past 30 years. The stories and memories of over ninety South Australian musicians and other local music supporters portray a time of rebellion, creativity, and an underground spirit which is uniquely Aussie.
The Other Option by Rohan Thomas – Australia
The Other Option traces the history of Australian punk and hardcore bands touring Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. From the most unlikely of trailblazers within Australia’s DIY underground scene, through to some of the biggest alternative acts the country has ever produced, it shares the amazing stories that until now had only been part of underground folklore. Filmed across 4 countries including 5 of Australia’s 7 states, The Other Option speaks to the bands and other prominent figures that lead the way to make touring South East Asia a reality for artists from around the world. It explores underlying reasons for the explosion of punk and hardcore bands touring the region, beyond the low-cost airlines, cheap living and instant online booking.
Best Comedy / Mockumentary
Psychoanalysis by James Raue – Australia | 2015 – 79 min.
Psychoanalysis follows Paul Symmonds, the country’s top suicide prevention specialist, who has just lost five of his clients to suicide within a one week period. His reputation is thrown into question so he arranges for a documentary crew to follow him around as he attempts to prove his clients were actually murdered by a rival psych who wants the top spot for himself.
Best Score
Gerard Mack for Revenge of the Gweilo by Nathan Hill – Australia | 2014 – 90 min.
Best Underground Promotion
Shotgun by Paddy Jessop – Australia
Robbed, fired, dumped and off his meds, he now sees things that aren’t there. Insanity and hatred grow while his rage festers, his mind is chaos and he wants others to pay for it. Madness will take him and his shotgun will purge him. Director Paddy Jessop filmed SHOTGUN in nine months in Melbourne’s alleyways and hidden streets, creating a low-budget Australian-grown horror-film, violent and gory with clever visual storytelling.
Best Guerilla Film
Shotgun by Paddy Jessop – Australia
Best International Film
Stressed to Kill by Mark Savage – Australia, US | 2016 – 111 min.
Best International Female Actor
Sonia Curtis for her role in Stressed to Kill by Mark Savage – Australia, US | 2016 – 111 min.
Best International Actor
Bill Oberst Jr for his role in Stressed to Kill by Mark Savage – Australia, US | 2016 – 111 min.
Best International Director
Mark Savage for Stressed to Killl – Australia, US | 2016 – 111 min.
Shorts Films
Best Short Film
Tipping Point by David Karacic – Australia | 13 min.
A Way Back by Alan King – Australia | 15 min.
Best Runner Up Short Film
Expatz by Jimmie Wing
Best Director
Henry Thong for Content Censored – Australia | 13 min.
David No for Battle of Wills – Australia | 8 min.
Best Actress
Sharnee Tones for her role in Elly by Lachlan Linton-Keane – Australia | 16 min.
Best Actor
Tommy Dysart for his role in A Thin Life by Frank Howson
Jackson Tozer for his role in Dead Sharks by Nic Barker – Australia | 18 min.
Best Comedy Short
Young Labor by Leon Ford – Australia | 15 min.
Best Song in a Short
Cole Dysart
To know more about the festival you can see the FESTIVAL PROFILE or visit the official website for more information HERE.
Categories: Film Festival
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