Melbourne International Comedy Festival presents

The 11th Annual Barry Awards

The Last Saturday night at the Festival Club is traditionally for every Festival fan's calendar. Not only is this a celebratory night where performers and punters gather to celebrate the laughs, unforgettable moments, magic (and tears!) of the past four weeks, but it is also the night where outstanding talents are recognised.

The night is name in hour of the main event- the annual Barry Award. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival acknowledges the Most Outstanding Festival Show with this prestigious award, named after Barry Humphries, the first patron of the Festival. It is an award that seeks out those performers who are enhance the art of comedy and acknowledges their vision.

Past Barry Award winners have included:

Daniel Kitson (2007)
Demetri Martin (2006)
Keating! The Opera (2005)
Maria Bramford (2004)
Mike Wilmot (2003)
Ross Noble (2002)
Brian Munich & Friends (2001)
The Mighty Boosh (2000)

The Age Critics' Award
The Age Critics' Award is the reviewers' gong. In recent years, it has become The Age Critics' choice for the best local act.

Past winners:
2007: Lawerence Leung learns to breakdance
2006: Judith Lucy – I Failed
2005: The Drowsy Drivers – Keating! The Opera
2004: The Kransky Sisters – We Don't Have Husbands

The Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award
The winner of this award for the best first-timer at the Festival gets a trip to the Brighton Comedy Festival in the UK, thanks to Melbourne Airport.

Past winners:
2007: Josh Thomas - Please like me
2006: Sammy J – Sammy J's 55 Minute National Tour
2005: Christina Adams – To Miss With Love
2004: The Kransky Sisters – We Don't Have Husbands / Eddie Perfect – Angry Eddie

The Golden Gibbo
In memory of the late, great Lynda Gibson, who passed away in 2004, the Golden Gibbo is awarded to a local, independent show that bucks trends and pursues the artist's idea more strongly than it pursues any commercial lure.

Past winners:
2007: The Glass Boat
2006: Greg Bird – Cliffy is Relaxed and Comfortable
2005: The Drowsy Drivers – Keating! The Opera
2004: Jeremy & Jo Randerson in Carry On Randerson / Eddie Perfect - Angry Eddie

The Piece of Wood Award
The comics' choice gong is a beloved (and much bitten) piece of wood. Selected by an ever-growing committee of comedians (as each year's winner is entitled to join the voting process), it is awarded to comics for doing good stuff ‘n' that.

Past winners:
2007: Andy Zaltzman detonates 60 minutes of Unbridled Evening
2006: Damian Callinan / Fiona O'Loughlin
2005: Tony Law
2004: Andrew McClelland

The Directors' Choice Award
The Directors' Choice is awarded by the Comedy Festival Director, in consultation with other visiting Festival Directors, to a fabulous show that somehow missed out on any other prize.

Past winners:
2007: Justin Hamilton - 3 colours Hammo
2006: Men of Steel / Nick Sun – Blood on the Yolks in the Key of Owls
2005: Tim Minchin - Darkside