Get notified when registration opens
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 Dionne Davenport 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.
It is 25 years since Amy Heckerling’s hit film and Emma interpretation Clueless hit the silver screen so naturally, I had to pick a comedy icon from the cast of total betties. Obviously Cher is the lead and narrator of Clueless but aside from her, there’s a few to choose from. Tai was sweet, goofy and funny, Amber was a hilarious bitch and who could forget ex-step-brother Josh’s date who misquoted Hamlet? Not me, because I watched that film so many times I could recite it to you in full now if you asked. My friend Amalia and I watched it till the film wore out. Like seriously, in the scene where Cher comes down the stairs in her Calvin Klein dress the audio of Mel’s opinion (“it looks like underwear!”) is shot. But my favourite character was always Dionne Davenport.
Cher is great and all but Dionne was cool. She didn’t just wear what magazines told her to, she added in humorous accessories (the hats, hello?) to put her own stamp on things. Also Dionne was probably one of the first teenage feminists I saw, from instructing her boyfriend Murray to not address her as ‘woman’ because it was pejorative to experimenting with her sexuality (remember her asking Tai if she’d ever done it in water?) this 15-year-old knew herself.
This is not to say Dionne is above some hysterics and hyperbole, such as her horror at Murray shaving his head in order to ‘keep it real’. However you have to admire her for thinking of her future grandchildren’s opinions.
Dionne also had some of the most memorable lines in the film. Yes, we all remember the catchphrases but Dionne has the best comebacks. From chipping in to announce that Cher’s saving herself for Luke Perry to offering honesty when Cher asks if she’d call her selfish “no, not to your face.” to the immortal insult to Amber “Well there goes your social life.”
Also having recently rewatched the film on Netflix I would also like to take the opportunity to praise how lean this film is. There is no fat in this script that needs trimming off, no wonder we remember it 25 years later and no wonder Dionne Davenport is this week’s comedy icon.
If you have a character you’d like to suggest for this, then tweet me @funnywomened
Read why Megan Bloomfield is a comedy icon here!
Read why Miss Piggy is a comedy icon here!
Read why Aunt Hilda is a comedy icon here!
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
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