The San Antonio Underground Film Festival has announced that Get Thrashed: The Story Of Thrash Metal has won this year’s SAFILM Grand Prize Award. Director Rick Ernst will be on hand to accept the award at its screening on June 23 at The Aztec Theater.

Robb’s Metalworks, San Antonio’s premiere metal show, is the official sponsor for the event. The ever-growing metal program has been promoting metal in the San Antonio area for 10 years and is aired at 10pm every third Sunday of the month on STUF-TV, Time Warner Cable Channel 50.

“This is a great honor for the metal community- not only here in San Antonio, but all over the country,” said Robb Chavez., creator and host of Robb’s Metalworks.

Robb’s Metalworks will film the award presentation, as well as conduct an exclusive interview with Ernst, which will air on a future episode.

“When Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal screened in Austin back in March, I remember all the locals being surprised that the film premiered in Austin and not San Antonio because, as they also pointed out, San Antonio is the heavy metal capital of America,” said Director Rick Ernst. “Almost every local music paper featured tons of San Antonio bands, clubs and record shops and it made me realize that I had to screen Get Thrashed there! Thanks to the San Antonio Underground Film Festival for the opportunity and for the Grand Jury Prize. I am proud, honored and could not be more excited to win the award and to screen the film in front of San Antonio’s legions of metalheads!”

Get Thrashed will screen at approximately 9 pm on Saturday, June 23, at the Aztec Theater, located at 201 E. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205. The film is a part of Program III (7pm-11pm). Advance tickets are available at Hogwild Records ($8), 1824 North Main Avenue, San Anotonio, TX or online at www.aztecontheriver.com ($8 + service charge).

Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal traces the rise, fall and impact of thrash metal, an extreme style of heavy metal popularized in the early 1980s by bands like METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER, ANTHRAX, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and others. It is the story of the heaviest, hardest music of the ‘80s and early ‘90s as told by the bands that lived it, the fans and bands that grew up on it and by the artists that carry the “thrash metal” flag today. The documentary throws new light on an overlooked, yet incredible music scene and how it went from a simple rumbling in the underground to a loud, obnoxious and constant roar in the (almost) mainstream. The trailer and more information can be found at www.GetThrashed.com. The documentary is produced by Saigon1515 Productions in association with Kundrat Productions. Get Thrashed was directed by Rick Ernst and the documentary’s Associate Producer is Rat Skates, founder and former drummer of OVERKILL.

The SAUFF celebrates its 13 year showcasing independent films from local to foreign filmmakers. During this year’s three-day event, audiences can see 62 independent films from around the globe.