Underground films cleaned up at the newly re-christened Syracuse International Horror, Science-Fiction & Fantasy Film Festival, with Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson’s The Taint and Stuart Simpson‘s El Monstro Del Mar! taking home top awards.

Formerly known as the B-Movie Film Festival, the 11th annual edition of the fest was held on Nov. 20-21 and screened nine genre-themed films, plus a block of shorts.

The Australian El Monstro Del Mar! has been winning awards all over the underground film circuit, including taking home prizes at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, the Sydney Underground Film Festival and the Royal Flush Film Festival. And, thanks to Spooky Movie, which screened the film in October, I was able to see this gem of a monster movie throwback and can say it’s getting all the accolades it deserves.

The Taint has had a more modest success in the underground, but its reputation appears to be growing. It also took home an award at the Sydney Underground Film Festival and will next screen at the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival. You can read the Underground Film Journal review of this movie here.

Also taking home awards were James Felix McKenney’s Satan Hates You, ultra-low budget British zombie movie Colin and more. The full list of winners is below:

BEST FEATURE
El Monstro Del Mar!

BEST DIRECTOR
Drew Bolduc and Dan Nelson – The Taint

BEST WRITER
James Felix McKenney – Satan Hates You

BEST ACTOR
Alastair Kirton – Colin

BEST ACTRESS
Kyrie Capri – El Monstro Del Mar!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Hall – The Taint

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kate Watts – El Monstro Del Mar!

BEST CELEBRITY CAMEOS
Reggie Banister – Satan Hates You

BEST FOREIGN FILM
El Monstro Del Mar! (Australia)

BEST MUSIC
The Taint

BEST MAKE-UP FX
The Taint

BEST DIGITAL FX
El Monstro Del Mar!

BEST EDITING
The Taint

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
El Monstro Del Mar!

BEST ANIMATED SHORT
Bear Horse

BEST SHORT
Frank Dancoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer