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For the first time ever, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s most prestigious annual award, the Barry Award, was awarded last night in a tie to Kristen Schaal (USA) As You Have Probably Never Seen Her Before and Nina Conti (UK) - Complete And Utter Conti for their 2008 shows at midnight the Festival Club.

The Barry Award, named after Barry Humphries, the first patron of the Festival, recognizes the Comedy Festival’s Most Outstanding Festival Show, specifically aiming to seek out those performers who are enhancing the art form of comedy and acknowledging their vision.

Also in contention for the 2008 Barry Award were nominees: Fiona O’Loughlin (AUS), Josie Long (UK) - Trying Is Good, Justin Hamilton (AUS) - The Killing Joke, and Sammy J (AUS) - Sammy J In The Forest Of Dreams.

Kristen Schaal and Nina Conti will join the company of past Barry Award winners including Daniel Kitson (2007) Demetri Martin (2006) Keating! The Opera (2005) Maria Bamford (2004) Mike Wilmot (2003) Ross Noble (2002) Brian Munich & Friends (2001) and The Mighty Boosh (2000).

The panel of 12 judges range from industry professionals to media, with Festival Director Susan Provan chairing the panel but not casting a vote for the Barry Award. The judges came to a consensus on Saturday afternoon.

“It was an incredibly difficult decision for the judges as the standard was so high. They tried first past the post and preferential voting and both methods resulted in a tie. It’s a great result as both artists have been incredibly popular, not just with the judges, but with audiences as well,” said Susan.

To be eligible for this prestigious award, a show must have had at least 10 performances as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in the particular year and cannot have won the Barry Award already.


Also awarded on the night:

• 2008 Age Critics’ Award: Sammy J In The Forest Of Dreams

• The Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award: For the best newcomer at the Festival - the winner jets off to experience the Brighton Comedy Festival in the UK. 2008 Nominees: Matthew Kenneally’s Ill Thought Through Plan For The World, Sam Wills - The Boy With Tape on His Face, Fear of a Brown Planet
2008 Winner: Fear of a Brown Planet

• The Directors’ Choice Award: Awarded by the Comedy Festival Director in consultation with other visiting Festival Directors.
2008 Winner: Sam Simmons - Where Can I Win a Bear Around Here?

• The Piece of Wood: The beloved (and much bitten) comics’ choice award selected by past winners and presented to a peer literally for “doing good stuff ‘n’ that”.
2008 Winner: Tom Gleeson - Tom-A-Thon

• The Golden Gibbo: In memory of the late, great Lynda Gibson and awarded to a local, independent show that pursues the artist’s idea more strongly than it pursues any commercial lure. 2008 Nominees: The Suitcase Royale - The Ghosts of Ricketts Hill, Benn Bennett and Wes Snelling in BLACK BAG, David Quirk – Kathleen Grace.
2008 Winner: The Suitcase Royale - The Ghosts of Ricketts Hill

The 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival officially closes tonight, Sunday 13 April.