The Women In Comedy Festival 2025 is here…!

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Kate Owen

Now in its 14th year, The Women In Comedy Festival has kicked off another year with an excellent array of events featuring outstanding talent from the world of comedy and bringing it to beautiful Manchester.

With the aim of being an accessible, supportive and championing all things funny and female across a variety of platforms, the festival includes stand-up, comedy theatre, improv, sketches, workshops and debates.  A true showcase of the rich, diverse and extremely talented pool of women in comedy from the UK and abroad, encompassing showcases, galas, networking events, training, panels, debates and workshops. The Women In Comedy Festival also offers training and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals and other leading creative organisations.

The festival has grown steadily over the years since it was founded in 2012 by Hazel O’Keefe who at the time also ran Laughing Cows. Since then, Jessica Toomey, Director of the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club and FAB Comedy Management has run and developed the festival with the shared ethos and vision as Hazel.

We are incredibly proud to support the festival and celebrate another year with Jessica Toomey who won the Industry Award at this years Funny Women Awards.

Our founder and CEO Lynne Parker will be appearing alongside two of our other Industry Award Nominees at the festival’s How to get ahead in Live Comedy: Industry Q&A with the LCA‘.

This event will take place on Saturday 11th October at the Creatures Comedy Club and sees the festival team up with the Live Comedy Association to bring this informative and sociable panel to the people. There will be a lineup of comedy industry insiders and experts ready to answer your questions about live comedy.

After the Q&A, the audience is invited to stick around for a relaxed mixer. The event will be chaired by Jessica Toomey, with panellists Lynne Parker, Louisa Jackson of Craic Comedy and Comedy on Prescription, Daisy Francis, Agent and Gina Lyons, TV Producer and creator of Gobby Girls 11% Club.

You can get tickets to the LCA Panel here.

You can find out more about the festival here.

Become a Member — Live Comedy Association

Picture of Kate Owen
Kate Owen
Kate is a TV Producer with over 15 Years of Experience. She started her career working on primetime comedy series with A-List Talent, then progressed into FactEnt programming and Quiz shows. She eventually moved into Documentary; specialising in Archive but also Edit Producing and Script Writing. Kate is developing her freelance writing career and looking for more opportunities within this sector.
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Get notified when registration opens

Comedy Shorts Award Entry Requirements

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

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