From punchline to pilot: VicScreen and the Festival join forces to find Victoria's next on-screen comedy hit

VicScreen and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have joined forces to bring Victoria's next wave of comedy talent from stage to screen.

Following the establishment of the VicScreen Greenlight Award in April, VicScreen and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have partnered again and are calling on Victorian comedy writers and stand-ups to pitch new narrative comedy series concepts, with successful applicants invited to develop their idea into a half-hour pilot script with the support of leading international comedy mentorship.

Introduced through the VICSCREEN Strategy, the Originate suite of programs have fast-tracked the careers of Victorian screenwriters, with supported projects securing backing from some of the screen industry's biggest names.

Now, Originate Comedy is set to uncover and develop the state's next generation of screen comedy creators. The three-stage development incubator will take four projects from early concept to performance-ready pilot scripts, culminating in a live reading event at the 2027 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Selected projects/teams will take part in masterclasses led by prominent comedy writers before working one-on-one with a dedicated international script editor to turn their pitch into a market-ready script. The four projects will then be workshopped with the participation of local performers and comedy professionals before participants submit their project for final review.

The program culminates with up to two projects being selected for a star-studded showcase at the 2027 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Performed by a cast of top Australian comedy performers and festival headliners, the staged readings will bring the pilots to life in front of an audience of festival fans and key industry decision-makers, including producers, commissioners and investors.

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “Every great screen comedy starts with a strong premise and a distinctive voice. Originate Comedy is about amplifying the next generation of comedy talent and helping them go further, faster, transforming bold ideas into market-ready projects. The added platform that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival brings as the largest dedicated comedy festival in the world, will give these creators unparalleled exposure to showcase their works and announce to the world, Victoria truly is the home of comedy in Australia.” 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival incoming CEO/Festival Director Dylan Cole said, "The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has always been a place where comedy talent is discovered, developed and celebrated. Some of Australia's best comedy writers have honed their craft on our stages, and we're thrilled to partner with VicScreen to help create the next generation of Victorian comedy for the screen. Comedy is an artform that naturally crosses genres and platforms, and a strong screen sector creates more opportunities for writers, performers and producers, strengthening the entire comedy ecosystem."

Applications for Originate Comedy open on Monday 10 August 2026 and close on Thursday 10 September 2026.