Apply
1. Have a show registered in the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
2. Submit your 2025 entries to the online form here by Wednesday 12 March.
3. Be a local show, meaning that the key participants in the show (writer/performer/director) must be an Australian or New Zealand resident.
4. Perform no less than ten sessions in an inner city venue, three of which must be performed before Sat 12 April 2025.
Please note: if you are presenting a half run of your show during the Festival it will be more difficult for Judges to get along to see you. There are only so many of them and we get a LOT of applications. We encourage all Golden Gibbo applicants, regardless of the length of their run, to do an archival recording of their show (on an iPhone is completely fine). In the event that the judging panel require access to a recorded copy of your show they will request it. Please DO NOT SUPPLY IT unless asked to do so.
5. Not be produced by a third party producer (this means professional management companies or other commercial promoters) or be a recipient of a substantial grant for the work (ie: more than 50% of the budget of the show). Where there is any grey area on this issue the judging panel will make a determination at its sole discretion. The show must be a new production for 2025. If the production has had a previous season in 2025 at either Adelaide or Perth Fringe Festival, it must be for no more than a 2 week season to be eligible.
6. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, get in touch with us here to check.
HOW IS THE AWARD JUDGED?
To confirm that your show satisfies the Award criteria we need to know things about a show that may not be available from your registration or program entry. The information you provide us with is used to confirm that your show is eligible.
When you are filling out the form and preparing the supplementary information consider that knowing where a show has come from and why it is being done can be valuable information for an award that is not simply looking for the “best” or “funniest”.
Once you have confirmed your eligibility you give us consent for complimentary tickets from your box office so our judges can come and see your show.
Lynda’s contribution and spirit is acknowledged every year by the Melbourne comedy community through the Golden Gibbo Award.