2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award winners

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for the most outstanding show

Winner: James Acaster Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 (UK)

Nominees: Anne Edmonds What’s Wrong With You?, Cassie Workman Giantess, Geraldine Hickey Things Are Going Well, Nath Valvo I’m Happy For You, Tom Allen Absolutely (UK)

Best Newcomer Award

Winner: Blake Freeman There's Something There

Nominees: Dan Rath Bubble Bath, Nina Oyama Needs a Lift, Oliver Coleman Poolside

Awarded to a solo performer or group of performers doing their first Festival show

People’s Choice Award

Winner - Urzila Carlson Loser

Awarded to the most popular show of the Festival as determined by the ticket buying public

Directors’ Choice Award

Winner - Aaron Chen piss off (just kidding)

Awarded by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Director in consultation with other visiting festival program directors

The Pinder Prize

For 2019 the Pinder Prize is going to support two performers making their Edinburgh Fringe debut at the Assembly venues in August: Sam Taunton who is taking his show Straight From The Shoulder, and Steph Tisdell (who will be appearing in The Aboriginal Allstars show along with Andy Saunders & Kevin Kropinyeri).

Honouring Festival co-founder John Pinder, one of Australian comedy’s most influential producers and biggest fans

The Golden Gibbo

Winner: Neal Portenza & Joshua Ladgrove Neal Portenza is Joshua Ladgrove

Nominees: Game Boys Game Boys Cinematic Universe, Lauren Bok Rock Out With Your Bok Out, Margot Tanjutco Vanity Fair Enough, Oliver Coleman Poolside, Patrick Collins Mime Consultant

Awarded in memory of the late, great Lynda Gibson and will be awarded to a local, independent show that pursues the artists’ idea more than it pursues commercial gain.

The Piece of Wood

Winner - Geraldine Hickey Things Are Going Well

Comics’ choice award, is selected by past winners and will be presented to a peer literally for “doin’ good stuff ‘n’ that”

The Funny Tonne

Winner -  John Souness

Going to the person who saw the most Festival shows and wrote the most reviews.