The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.
If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.
WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!
WHO CAN ENTER?
This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.
ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?
Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?
We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.
HOW IS IT JUDGED?
Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.
WHAT CAN I WIN?
2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes
The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.
If you need further information please contact us here
Why Aunt Hilda is a Comedy Icon
Kate Stone
When it comes to female characters there appears to be an odd belief that there are few examples of them in comedy, specifically examples who could be held up as comedic role models. I seem to have some extra time on my hands right now and rather than rearrange my wardrobe I have decided to dedicate an essay each to the fictional girls and women who deserve more recognition for their comedy.
I am going to say something now that may be controversial but… without Mr Poole and Jennifer Kelley in the cast Aunt Hilda really had to hold the comedy of Sabrina the Teenage Witch single-handed.
Yes Mrs Quick was alright but eurgh, Mr Kraft was just a pain, blocking everything. The only time I found Mr Kraft funny was in the episode where Salem eats Sabrina’s Time Ball (if you know, you know) and takes everyone back to the 70s and Mr Kraft becomes a hippy ‘yes and…’ kinda guy.
With Sabrina suddenly going from science geek to confident and popular A-grade student (nobody likes someone who works hard and plays hard, Sabrina) it really was left to Aunt Hilda to continue to provide the fun in the show. Turns out I feel a lot more strongly about this than I realised when I began writing this.
While you could sum up Hilda as a ditzy airhead with a penchant for animal print, I think she’s actually one of the more nuanced characters in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She’s more available than Zelda, always tries to make the right decision and willing to acknowledge that, even at 642 years old, she is fallible. Aunt Hilda also gets the best back-story, with her broken engagement to the head of the Witches Council Drell, the mysterious man trapped in her ring and her secret Northern accent, she’s the most compelling character of them all.
Aunt Hilda also has the advantage of being played by a comedian, Caroline Rhea, meaning no line wasted and the comic timing is always perfect. This prevents Aunt Hilda from ever being just zany, even when wearing a pair of giant boobs when caught in her sister Zelda’s booby trap.
Considering Aunt Hilda is clearly set up to be the ‘wacky one’ her comedy talent means she actually often has the most normal responses to things, without losing the fun and silliness of a show about witches living in the mortal realm. Which is why Aunt Hilda is this week’s comedy icon.
If you have a character you’d like to suggest for this, then tweet me @funnywomened
Read why Maddy Magellan is a comedy icon here!
Read why Elizabeth Cronin is a comedy icon here!
Read why Jane Lane is a comedy icon here!
Read why Lisa Landry is a comedy icon here!
Read why Dorothy Zbornak is a comedy icon here!
Read why Anne Shirley is a comedy icon here!
Read why Wednesday Addams is a comedy icon here!
Read why Marmalade Atkins is a comedy icon here!
Read why Tracy Beaker is a comedy icon here!
Read why Daria Morgendorffer is a comedy icon here!
Read why Anastasia Krupnik is a comedy icon here!
Read why Helga Pataki is a comedy icon here!
Kate Stone
You might also enjoy
Submissions Now Open for Comedy Women in Print Prize
Read More »Q&A: Helen Lederer, Not That I’m Bitter
Read More »Musical Comedy Awards 2025: Review
Read More »April Gig Guide
Read More »Katherine Ryan to launch new podcast
Read More »Celebrating the return of the Funny Women Awards
Read More »BBC Studios’ Funny Parts Sponsors Funny Women Awards 2025
Read More »Why our Awards are still the ‘beating heart’ of Funny Women
Read More »Check these out
Q&A: Helen Lederer, Not That I’m Bitter
Writer, actress and comedian, Helen Lederer, is launching her new paperback, Not That I’m Bitter, this April.
April Gig Guide
It’s April, the sun is shining and it’s time to focus on enjoying some cracking comedy shows this month.
Why our Awards are still the ‘beating heart’ of Funny Women
I know I bang on about how the Funny Women Awards are the lifeblood of our community and I’m passionate about the importance of having safe places where those of us who identify as female can be creative, explore ideas and put them out there into the world unencumbered by social pressures.
BBC Studios’ Funny Parts Sponsors Funny Women Awards 2025
Registration for the Funny Women Awards 2025, Is now open AND we have new sponsor! We are delighted to announce that BBC Studios’ digital comedy channel, Funny Parts, is supporting us to celebrate the best in women’s comedy across the UK.