MICF Announces Barry Award Nominations For 2016

The annual Barry Awards, named after iconic Aussie comedian Barry Humphries, returns for its 19th year in 2016 and the full list of nominees have been revealed, which feature a slew of popular local and international talent. 

With just one week of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival left to go, the judges made up of industry professionals and media have narrowed the shortlist down to: 

Anne Edmonds – That’s Eddotainment
Damien Power – Sell Mum Into Slavery
David O'Doherty - We Are All In The Gutter, But Some Of Us Are Looking At David O'Doherty
Luisa Omielan - Am I RIght Ladies?!
Rhys Nicholson – Bona Fide
Tom Ballard – The World Keeps Happening and Boundless Plains to Share
Zoe Coombs Marr – Trigger Warning

Launched in 1998 as the Stella Award, before being renamed in 2000 to pay tribute to Humphries, the Barry Award recognises the most outstanding comedy festival show.

Comedians who have taken out the Barry Award in previous years include Denise Scott, Sammy J & Randy, Ross Noble and last year's winner, Sam Simmons. 

The winner will be crowned at the Annual Comedy Festival Awards, to be held at Max Watt's this Saturday. 

Other categories to be included at the ceremony this weekend includes Best Newcomer Award, The Directors’ Choice Award, The Piece of Wood (comic’s choice award), The People’s Choice Award, the Golden Gibbo Award (named in honour of the late Lynda Gibson for best independent production) and for the first time, The Pinder Prize, honouring Festival co-founder John Pinder. 

Meanwhile, Barry Award nominees Rhys Nicholson and Zoe Coombs Marr will stage a wedding ceremony this Friday at the Festival Club to highlight marriage inequality in Australia. 

The pair will use the wedding as a political protest and will aim to raise money for Minus18, Australia’s national LGBTI youth advocacy organisation.

For more details on the event and the Annual Comedy Festival Awards, head to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival website.