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((short description|Annual comedy festival in Melbourne, Australia))
((Use Australian English|date=April 2011))
((Use dmy dates|date=August 2020))
((Infobox recurring event
| name         = <!--Uses page name if omitted-->
| native_name  =
| logo         = <!--INCLUDE "[[File:Filename]]" when entering file name-->
| logo_caption =
| image        = Melbourne Town Hall.jpg
| imagesize    = frameless
| caption      = The [[Melbourne Town Hall]] serves as a hub for the MICF, as well as a venue for many performances.
| date         = <!--"dates=" also works, as merged from
                 Template:Infobox festival. Do not use both-->
| begins       = 
| ends         = 
| frequency    = Annually
| location     = [[Melbourne, Victoria|Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
| years_active = ((age|1987|04|01)) <!--Date of the first occurrence-->
| first        = 1987
| participants = 
| attendance   = 776,737 <small>(2019)</small><ref name="AR2019">((cite web |url=https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/3f068f3b7e5dff5bc263416fc8e4cf38p |title=Melbourne International Comedy Festival Limited |year=2019 |publisher=Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission |access-date=11 January 2019 ))</ref>
| genre        = [[Comedy festival]]
| budget       =
| patron       = 
| website      = [https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/ www.comedyfestival.com.au/]
| footnotes    =
))

The '''Melbourne International Comedy Festival''' ('''MICF''') is the largest stand-alone comedy festival and the second-largest international [[comedy festival]] in the world. Established in 1987, it takes place annually in [[Melbourne]] over four weeks, typically starting in March and running through to April.  The [[Melbourne Town Hall]] has served as the festival hub, but performances are held in many venues throughout the city.

The MICF plays host to hundreds of local and international artists; in 2018, the festival listed over 550 shows and 6,700 performances (including more than 160 free performances) by 3,500 artists.  Although it is mainly a vehicle for [[stand-up comedy|stand-up]] and [[cabaret]] acts, the festival has also included [[sketch comedy|sketch shows]], plays, [[improvisational theatre]], debates, musical shows and art exhibitions.  The televised Gala is one of the festival's flagship event, showcasing short performances from many headline and award-winning comics. Other popular events include The Great Debate, a televised comedy debate, the Opening Night Super Show, and Upfront, a night of performances exclusively featuring female comedians.

The Festival also produces three flagship development programs: [[Raw Comedy]], Australia's biggest open mic competition; [[Class Clowns]], a national comedy competition for high school students; and Deadly Funny, an Indigenous comedy competition that celebrates the unique humour of Indigenous Australians. The festival also undertakes an annual national roadshow, showcasing festival highlights in regional towns across Australia.

==History==
The festival was launched in 1987 at a media conference hosted by [[Barry Humphries]] (as [[Sir Les Patterson]]) and [[Peter Cook]]. According to the festival's co-founder, [[John Pinder (comedy producer)|John Pinder]], the idea of holding an international comedy festival originated in the early 1980s.  In 1986, Pinder persuaded the Victorian Tourism Commission to fund an overseas trip in order to visit other international comedy festivals and investigate the possibility of holding a festival in Melbourne.  Pinder became convinced it would work, and after his return he wrote a report for the state government, which they accepted.<ref>((cite book | author=Harris, Richard | title = Punch Lines: Twenty Years of Australian Comedy | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | year = 1994 | location = Sydney, Australia | pages = 106–107 | isbn = 978-0-7333-0289-3))</ref> The following year, the first annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival launched.<ref name="Theatre Australia">((cite book | author = Milne, Geoffrey
 | title = Theatre Australia (Un)limited: Australian Theatre Since the 1950s
 | publisher = Rodopi | date = April 2004
 | location = Australia | pages = 389 | isbn = 978-90-420-0930-1))</ref>

Traditionally the festival would open on or around [[April Fool's Day]] (1 April), though it now generally begins in mid-to-late March and runs for roughly four weeks.<ref name="Theatre Australia" /> Its first year, in 1987, featured 56 separate shows, including performances by the [[Doug Anthony All Stars]], [[Wogs Out of Work]], [[Gerry Connolly (comedian)|Gerry Connolly]], [[Los Trios Ringbarkus]] and [[Rod Quantock]].  By 1999, it contained over 120 shows and was being attended by some 350,000 patrons annually.<ref name="Fools">((cite web | author=Laffan, Carolyn | url=http://fools.abc.net.au/essay/festival.htm | title=Comedy Festival |work=Fool's Paradise |year=1999 | access-date=26 January 2009))</ref> In 2010, it played host to a record (at the time) 369 shows and 4,947 performances both local and international, including artists from the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and China.  In addition, it achieved an attendance of over 508,000 and its highest-ever box office revenue of [[Australian dollar|A$]]10.9&nbsp; million, ranking it as Australia's largest cultural event.<ref>((cite press release| url = http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/files/1210813402MICFResults2008.pdf | title=2008 Melbourne International Comedy Announces $9.7&nbsp; Million Box Office | publisher = Melbourne International Comedy Festival |date=9 May 2008 | access-date=27 January 2009))</ref> Activities were originally centred around the Universal and [[Athenaeum, Melbourne|Athenaeum]] Theatres but in the early 1990s, the MICF shifted its venue to the newly refurbished Melbourne Town Hall, which has remained the festival hub.  Soon after this, it spread out further to include an independently produced program at the [[Victorian Trades Hall|Melbourne Trades Hall]] as well.<ref name="Theatre Australia" /> In 2010, for the first time, the Festival also ran the Trades Hall venue.

The MICF is one of the three largest international comedy festivals in the world, behind [[Edinburgh]]'s [[Edinburgh Fringe|Fringe Festival]] and ahead of [[Montreal]]'s [[Just For Laughs]].

Although it is mainly a vehicle for stand-up and cabaret acts, its programme has also featured sketch shows, plays, improvisational theatre, debates, musical shows and art exhibitions.<ref name="Theatre Australia" /><ref>((cite book |author1=Johnson, Rob |author2=Smiedt, David | title =Boom-Boom! A Century of Australian Comedy | publisher = Hodder & Stoughton | year = 1999 | location = Sydney | page = 350 | isbn = 978-0-7336-0938-1))</ref> There is also a tradition for experimenting with unusual comedy venues, such as Rod Quantock's "Bus" tours and the similar "Storming Mount Albert By [[Tram]]", which used buses and trams respectively as mobile theatres in which the audience members were also passengers.<ref name="punch lines 108">((cite book | last = Harris | first = Richard
 | title = Punch Lines: Twenty Years of Australian Comedy | year = 1994
 | page = 108
 | isbn=978-0-7333-0289-3 | publisher = ABC Books))</ref>

In 2006, the opening of the festival was delayed due to the Festival Melbourne that occurred as part of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] held in Melbourne.<ref>((cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/commonwealth-games/culture/2006/03/28/1143441133770.html?page= | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | first=Robin | last=Usher | title=Culture | date=28 March 2006))</ref>

Following the end of the festival in Melbourne various local and international comedians join the MICF Roadshow, which spends several months touring regional Australia and in 2010, Singapore.<ref>((cite web
 |last = Gannaway
 |first = Kath
 |url = http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/57238
 |title = Get ready for a laugh riot
 |work = Mountain Views Mail
 |publisher = Star News Group
 |date = 8 January 2008
 |access-date = 13 October 2010
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080817064054/http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/57238
 |archive-date = 17 August 2008))</ref>

The 2020 festival was cancelled in its entirety due to concerns surrounding [[COVID-19]] and the extension of restrictions relating to efforts to stem the spread of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|pandemic in Australia]].<ref>((Cite news|date=2020-03-13|title=Melbourne International Comedy Festival cancelled as coronavirus disruption hits Victoria|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-13/victoria-coronavirus-outbreak-melbourne-comedy-fest-cancelled/12053174|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128204431/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-13/victoria-coronavirus-outbreak-melbourne-comedy-fest-cancelled/12053174|archive-date=2021-01-28|access-date=2021-03-05|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|last1=Photo|first1=File))</ref>

==Views on the festival==
Australian comic [[Peter Helliar]] says that performing in Melbourne is more fun for comedians because there is less pressure involved than in Edinburgh, where there is greater competition to gain an audience.<ref>((cite web |author=AAP | url=http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=371507 | title=Comedy festival gala 'is toughest gig' |work=The West Australian |date=8 April 2007 | access-date=27 January 2009))</ref> Journalist Simon Fanshawe describes Melbourne as "the festival where the comedians go to play ... the most relaxed, least fevered and probably the most audience-friendly of all the festivals."<ref>((cite news |author=Fanshawe, Simon | url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2004/feb/07/culturaltrips.guardiansaturdaytravelsection?page=2 | title=Heard the one about... | work=The Guardian | date=7 February 2004 | access-date=27 January 2009 | location=London))</ref>

Lorin Clarke, a Melbourne-based writer and director of comedy theatre, argues that shows self-produced by Australian comedians have great difficulty competing against shows featuring international comics which are produced by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Clarke argues that this conflict of interest stifles creativity.<ref>((cite web |author=Fanshawe, Simon | url=http://meanjin.com.au/editions/volume-70-number-1-2011/article/weeds-are-as-important-as-trees-where-now-for-the-melbourne-international-comedy-festival/ | title='Weeds are as Important as Trees': Where Now for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival? | work=Meanjin | date=1 April 2011 | access-date=17 May 2011))</ref>

==Special events==
In addition to over 200 nightly shows which play during the festival, there are a number of special one-off events.  The best-known of these is the [[Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala|Comedy Festival Gala]], which showcases short acts from many headlines and award-winning comedians performing shows at that year's festival. It has become known as the festival's flagship event and typically sells out months in advance. It is typically hosted by well-known popular comedians. Headline acts at the Gala have included world-famous comics [[Arj Barker]], [[Eddie Ifft]], [[Adam Hills]], [[Russell Kane]], [[Stephen K Amos]], [[Mike Wilmot]] and [[Rich Hall]]. The Gala is filmed and broadcast at a later date during the festival on the [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC]].<ref>((cite news |author=Roberts, Jo | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Arts/Eddie-McEverywhere/2005/03/23/1111525228545.html | title=Where did all those Eddies come from? |work=The Age |date=24 March 2005 | access-date=27 January 2009 | location=Melbourne))</ref> Since 1995 the Gala has been a charity event, with all proceeds from the live performance and the screening going to [[Oxfam Australia]].<ref>((cite web|author=Media Release |url=http://www.oxfam.org.au/media/article.php?id=12 |title=Ten years on and still laughing! The Comedy Festival and Oxfam working to make poverty history |work=Oxfam Australia |date=22 March 2005 |access-date=27 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213000611/http://www.oxfam.org.au/media/article.php?id=12 |archive-date=13 February 2012 ))</ref>

The Great Debate has been an annual event since 1989 and has been televised variously on [[Network Ten]], [[Nine Network]] and currently airs on [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC]].<ref name="affirmative">((cite news |author=Jinman, Richard | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/01/1056825391056.html | title=Affirmative action|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 July 2003 | access-date=27 January 2009))</ref> The comedy debate features two teams of comedians facing off loosely in the structure of a [[Australia-Asia debating|formal debate]] over humorous topics such as "Laughter is Better Than Sex", "Coming First is All That Matters" and "[[Food]] is better than [[sex]]".  The winning team is chosen by audience applause.<ref name="affirmative" /><ref>((cite news |author=McManus, Bridget | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/still-dancing-in-the-streets/2006/08/01/1154198143271.html | title=Still dancing in the streets |work=The Age |date=3 August 2006 | access-date=27 January 2009 | location=Melbourne))</ref><ref>((cite news |author=Ziffer, Daniel | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/stars-turn-on-tv/2008/03/30/1206850707231.html | title=Stars 'turn' on TV and win over fans |work=The Age |date=31 March 2008 | access-date=27 January 2009 | location=Melbourne))</ref> Since 1994, the festival has produced Upfront, a night exclusively featuring female comedians which routinely sells out.<ref>((cite news |author=Gadd, Michael | url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21516936-10388,00.html | title=Busting the women in comedy myths |work=News.com.au |date=6 April 2007 | access-date=27 January 2009))</ref>

==Awards==
Each year, the MICF ends its Melbourne run by recognising the most outstanding shows and performers with a series of awards.  The award for the '''[[Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award|most outstanding show]]''' of the festival was called the ''Barry Award'' until the 2019 festival, named after [[Barry Humphries]]. However, due to comments about transgender people Humphries' name was removed from the prize and it was renamed the ''Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award''.<ref>((Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/apr/16/barry-humphries-name-dropped-from-melbourne-comedy-festival-award-after-transgender-comments|title=Barry Humphries: Melbourne comedy festival renames award after transgender comments|last=Harmon|first=Steph|date=2019-04-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-04-16|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077))</ref>

The ''[[Piece of Wood Award]]'' was introduced in 1998 and is the comics' choice award.

''The Best Newcomer Award'' is presented to the festival's best first-time performer as a part of its Emerging Talent Program.  The winner receives a trip to the [[Brighton]] comedy festival in the UK.<ref>((cite web |author=Staff writer | url=http://www.australianstage.com.au/news/melbourne/melbourne-airport-supports-artists-to-fly-542.html/ | title=Melbourne Airport Supports Artists To Fly |work=Australian Stage Online |date=23 July 2007 | access-date=1 February 2009))</ref>

''The Golden Gibbo'', named in honour of Australian comedian [[Lynda Gibson]], celebrates a local, independent act that "bucks trends and pursues the artist's idea more strongly than it pursues any commercial lure".<ref name="official awards">((cite web|url=http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/about/awards/ |title=Comedy Festival Awards |work=Melbourne International Comedy Festival – Corporate Site |year=2009 |access-date=26 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422112543/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/about/awards/ |archive-date=22 April 2009 ))</ref>

''The Directors' Choice'', has been presented since 2005 and recognises an outstanding show that missed out on any other prize.  It is awarded by the MICF director, in consultation with other visiting festival directors.<ref name="official awards" />

''The Funny Tonne'' is awarded to the punter who sees the most shows throughout the Comedy Festival each year.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/funny-tonne|title = Melbourne International Comedy Festival))</ref>

''[[The Age]] Critics' Award'' was presented to the best local act as selected by reviewers at the Melbourne newspaper between 2001 and 2010.<ref name="statearts">((cite web |author=Staff writer |url=http://www.stateart.com.au/sota/news/default.asp?fid=3381 |title=8th annual Barry Awards announced |work=State of the Arts |date=18 January 2005 |access-date=26 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720171535/http://www.stateart.com.au/sota/news/default.asp?fid=3381 |archive-date=20 July 2008))</ref>

A full list of all current and past Melbourne International Comedy Festival awards winners is listed on the [https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/about-us/awards MICF Awards website].

==Advertising==
From 1988 to 2018, [[cartoonist]] [[Michael Leunig]] designed the artwork for the festival program and other materials such as advertising posters.<ref>25 Years of Laughs, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ((cite web|url=http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/25-years/ |title=25 Years of Laughs &#124; Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2011 |access-date=2011-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412060510/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2011/season/25-years |archive-date=12 April 2011 )), accessed 11 April 2011</ref> In 2019, Leunig was replaced by [[Judy Horacek]], following his recent controversial works on vaccines and marriage equality. Horacek will remain as the illustrator for the festival until at least 2020.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/melbourne-comedy-festival-bins-leunig/|title=The Melbourne Comedy Festival Has Quietly Binned Anti-Vax Lunatic Leunig|date=2018-11-09|website=Pedestrian TV|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-23))</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of festivals in Australia]]
*[[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]]
*[[Just for Laughs]]
*[[Martin Martini and the Bone Palace Orchestra]]

==References==
((reflist))

== External links ==
*[http://www.comedyfestival.com.au Official Melbourne International Comedy Festival site]

((Melbourne events))

[[Category:Recurring events established in 1987]]
[[Category:Comedy festivals in Australia]]
[[Category:Festivals in Melbourne|International Comedy Festival]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Performing arts in Melbourne]]

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