The short list for the Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award for 2008 has been announced.
2007 Melbourne Fringe Best Comedy winner Mathew Kenneally joins New Zealand’s Sam Wills along with Nazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman from the much talked about Fear of A Brown Planet.
The nominees are
Mathew Kenneally’s Ill Thought Through Plan for the World
Sam Wills – The Boy With Tape on His Face
Fear of A Brown Planet
The Melbourne Airport Best Newcomer Award, which will be announced as part of Saturday’s Barry Awards, provides the winner with flights and accommodation to attend the Brighton Comedy Festival, giving the winner the opportunity try their hand on the global stage.
Past winners of the Melbourne Airport Emerging Talent Program include Sammy J, Josh Thomas, Eddie Perfect, The Kransky Sisters and Fiona O’Loughlin.
These artists join acts already nominated for a variety of awards this festival including:
Barry Award
Kristen Schaal – As You Have Probably Never Seen Her Before
Nina Conti – Complete And Utter Conti
Josie Long – Trying Is Good
Fiona O’Loughlin
Sammy J – Sammy J In The Forest Of Dreams
Justin Hamilton – The Killing Joke
The Golden Gibbos Award
The Ghosts of Ricketts Hill: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Comedy Adventure
Benn Bennett and Wes Snelling in BLACK BAG
David Quirk – Kathleen Grace
(The Newcomer, Barry and Golden Gibbo Awards will be presented on Saturday 12 April at the Hi Fi Bar and Ballroom. Other awards be presented on this night include The Age Critics’ Award, The Directors’ Choice Award and The Piece of Wood. Visit the comedy festival website for further details.)
The Groogy Squirrel Critics’ Award
Bec Hill for If You Can Read This My Cape Fell Off
Justin Hamilton for The Killing Joke
Sammy J and Heath McIvor for Sammy J In the Forest of Dreams
Sam Wills for The Boy with Tape on His Face
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Adam McKenzie, Rob Lloyd & Tegan Higginbotham) for Every Film Ever Made
(The TGS Awards will be announced at the Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall on Sunday 13th April, between 10:30pm and 11:00pm, just prior to the Trades Hall Awards celebration)