Movies were destroyed and awards given to the destructors at the 12th annual Melbourne Underground Film Festival, which was held back on Aug. 19-28.

The Best Film of the fest, as chosen by jury head Jimmy the Exploder in in consultation with The MUFF team, was the controversial A Serbian Film by Srdjan Spasojevic, which has been banned in some parts of the country, but now available on DVD in others.

Other big winners are: Larry Wessel who took home Best Director and Best Documentary for his epic 4-hour profile of cult figure Boyd Rice, Iconoclast (Watch the trailer); Viva Bianca and Hanna Mangan Lawrence appropriately shared the Best Actress award for their starring roles in Jon Hewitt‘s X (Watch the trailer); and John V. Soto”s Needle took home numerous awards such as Best Actor (Michael Dorman), Best Cinematography (D.P. Stephen F. Windon), Best Poster (Horror Version) and the Special Jury Prize.

And a special Underground Film Journal shout-out goes to U.S. filmmaker Greg Hanson, whose Good Taste won for Best Short Film.

The full lineup of winners is below:

BEST FILM

A Serbian Film, dir. Srdjan Spasojevic

BEST ACTOR

Michael Dorman (Needle)

BEST ACTRESS (Tie)

Viva Bianca (Holly Rowe X)

& Hanna Mangan Lawrence (Shay Ryan X)
(Watch the trailer)

BEST DIRECTOR

Larry Wessel (Iconoclast)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Iconoclast, dir. Larry Wessel
(Watch the trailer)

BEST SCREENPLAY

James Harkness (Birthday)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Needle, dir. John V. Soto

BEST GUERILLA FILM (Tie)

Boronia Backpackers, dir. Timothy Spanos

& Garth Lives in a Van, dir. Gregory Pakis

BEST SUPORTING ACTOR

Richard Wilson (Birthday)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kestie Morassi (Birthday)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Needle (D.P. Stephen F. Windon)

SHORTS:

BEST SHORT FILM

Good Taste, dir. Greg Hanson

RUNNER-UP BEST SHORT FILM

Gumby’s New Tit, dir. Alex Machin

BEST SHORT FILM DIRECTOR

Michael Adams/Charlotte Squires (Grandma’s Gift)

BEST SHORT FILM ACTOR

Paul Yardley (Don’t Ya Wanna Dance)

BEST SHORT FILM ACTRESS

Deanna Ortuso (A Tale of Obsession)

BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY

Michael Adams/Charlotte Quires (Grandma’s Gift)

BEST POSTER

Needle (Horror Version)