One Less God, which tells the personal stories of Taj Mahal Palace hotel guests and staff caught up in the terrorist attack in 2008, took the Best Film Award at the 11th Byron Bay Film Festival.

“The film, though gruelling, had been an “absolute hit” with audiences, “sparking debate, passionate commentary and heartfelt appreciation”, said Festival Director J’aimee Skippon-Volke.

Other nominations for Best Film included An American in Texas, City of Joy, Loving Vincent, and the Closing Gala feature Rumble: the Indians Who Rocked the World.

2017 Byron Bay Film Festival Awards

BEST FILM AWARD WINNER
One Less God
Director: Lliam Worthington

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE WINNER
Jungle
Director: Greg McLean
Honourable Mention: An American in Texas
Director: Anthony Pedone

BEST SURF FILM
Heavy Water
Director: Michael Oblowitz

BEST ANIMATION
Loving Vincent
Director: Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM
Blue
Director: Karina Holden

BEST YOUNG AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKER
Mwah
Director: Nina Buxton

BEST BYRON FILM
Church of the Open Sky
Director: Nathan Oldfield

BYRON BAY INTERNATIONALSCREENPLAY AWARD (new category)
Broken Head
Writer: Clare Sladden

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Radio Dreams
Director: Babak Jalali

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
A Dragon Arrives
Director: Mani Haghighi

BEST SHORT
Uncanny Valley
Director: Federico Heller

BEST INTERACTIVE VR
Hue
Director: Nicole McDonald

BEST CINEMATIC VR
Miyubi
Director: Felix Lajeunesse, Paul Raphaël

BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY (new category)
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World
Director: Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Love is a Lonely Dancer
Artist: Antony & Cleopatra
Director: Alan Masferrer