Jury Announced as Funny Shorts Sessions Now on Sale

We're proud to announce Kate McLennan (one half of the creative powerhouse behind Deadloch ), writer and director Leela Varghese (Lesbian Space Princess), and director, writer and actor Tony Briggs (The Sapphires) as the first jury members for Funny Shorts.

With submissions closing Friday 20 February 2026, the Festival is calling on filmmakers and content creators everywhere to get their funniest short-form work in before the final deadline. At the same time, audiences can now snap up tickets to Funny Shorts screening sessions, officially on sale and set to light up ACMI screens during the Festival.

The Funny Shorts premiere event screening will take place on Sunday 29 March, 3pm at ACMI – while repeat screenings will run Thursday 2 April, 7pm and Monday 13 April, 7pm at ACMI.

Designed to recognise and reward excellence in screen comedy, we invite filmmakers of all experience levels to submit original, laugh-inducing short works. Whether it’s a first-ever short or a filmmaker’s fortieth, if it’s funny, it’s in the running.

A shortlist of films will be selected by a panel of leading comedy and screen industry professionals and screened at our premiere event during the opening weekend of the 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The overall winner will take home a $5,000 cash prize, with the Audience Favourite Award receiving $1,000, thanks to Funny Shorts’ inaugural partner, .au.

Jury member Kate McLennan had this to say about Funny Shorts: ‘It’s true, I am a judge for Australia’s Funniest Shorts. Full disclosure, when I said “yes” to being involved I thought I was unearthing the country's most hilarious waist-down-knees-up piece of clothing. Turns out I have to watch short videos… probably on my phone from the comfort of my couch or second toilet. It’s going to be a stretch but I’ll do it for comedy and my country.’

Funny Shorts forms part of a special events program celebrating the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s 40th birthday, honouring the Festival’s long-standing commitment to nurturing Australian comedy talent across stage and screen.

Previous Funny Shorts winners include internationally acclaimed animator Adam Elliot (Mary & Max, Memoir of a Snail) and beloved comedian Frank Woodley (The Adventures of Lano & Woodley).

For entry details, submission guidelines and tickets, visit funnyshorts.au.