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
Comedy legend and Drag star Paul O’Grady Dies
Funny Women
The public has been remembering and mourning Paul O’Grady this week, after passing away on Tuesday night. The comedy legend rose to acclaim with his drag character Lily Savage, who performed at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern pub for 8 years during the 1980s, soon becoming a famous face in south London and beyond. O’Grady said of Lily:
“[He] wanted to get up there but be larger than life, a creature that was more cartoon than human”.
Lily grew in popularity and started performing as warm up for large headliners such as Vic Reeves, before taking the show across the pond, performing in Fort Lauderdale Florida. Between 1989 and 1992, Lily performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, being nominated for the Perrier Award in 1991, alongside Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard and Frank Skinner.
O’Grady spoke of the Fringe as transformative to his career, claiming:
“The Edinburgh Festival changed my life. The experience opened doors for me that would otherwise have been firmly closed, exposing me to a much wider audience than I’d previously been used to.”
O’Grady went on to international stardom, performing on the West End, TV and Radio across the UK. Most notably, hosting Blankety Blank and The Paul O’Grady Show – the latter in which he interviewed celebrities on TV every day, which garnered a huge following of 2.5 million viewers daily.
Many Funny Women alumni have remembered Paul and Lily today
Sooze Kempner (2012 Variety Award Winner) tweeted:
“So sad to hear the news about Paul O’ Grady. He was razor-sharp funny and kind to the core.”
O’Grady had just played Miss Hannigan in the west end musical Annie, and was due to host a new Radio Show in 2023. O’Grady will be remembered for many things: a comedy legend who inspired so many, someone who brought drag into UK mainstream TV, an avid animal lover and fighter for gay rights throughout the decades.
Funny Women
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