Helen Lederer Launches CWIP Award

Funny Women

Funny Women

From Allison Pearson, Dawn French and Marian Keyes, all the way back to Muriel Spark, Dorothy Parker and Stella Gibbons, we have been devouring female wit on the page for decades. Women comic novelists consistently top the bestseller lists, so why aren’t they celebrated?   

Enter comedian and author Helen Lederer, who aims to address this by introducing a new literary prize that will officially recognise witty female authors and nurture new, unpublished talent; The Comedy Women in Print Award, or CWIP for short, will celebrate female comedy fiction in all its forms, from the absurd and laugh-out-loud to the dark and razor sharp.

Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson, author Marian Keyes and Jennifer Young – Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Hertfordshire are part of the judging panel, with more judges to be announced. Marian Keyes said: “There are brilliantly funny women writing today, but they are not celebrated as they should be. This prize should change that.”  

There will be two categories for the prize – published and unpublished.  Both winners will be awarded a cash prize and the unpublished winner will be given a place on the Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Hertfordshire.  The competition is open to female authors of any nationality, writing in the English language and over the age of 18.

The award is sponsored by Pegasus Life.  CWIP is also honoured to have the University of Hertfordshire (of which Helen Lederer is an alumna) and The Telegraph as partners, and the support of publishing industry magazine The Bookseller.   

Helen Lederer said: “CWIP is finally on the literary map – as if it was always meant to be. Funny that.” 

Author and broadcaster Janet Ellis was at the launch of the Award and said: “Published or unpublished, this is a chance to display what women have always known- we’re funny.

“Joining Funny Women founder Lynne Parker’s impressive track record of launching comedy careers, it’s thanks to Helen’s vision and generosity that there’s now a prominent, prize-winning place for women’s comedy writing.”

The Award is open to submissions now, closing date is 31st January 2019. To enter click here!

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Get notified when registration opens

Comedy Shorts Award Entry Requirements

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

Funny Women NextUp…Comedy Shorts Award

Are you a budding Director? Producer? Screenwriter? Are you collaborating with friends to make a funny video? Then we are looking for YOU!

If you have a short film or sketch that you think is hilarious, then enter your work for our Comedy Shorts Award to be in with a chance of winning some life-changing support and mentoring from comedy professionals.

WHAT KIND OF FILM ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

A 1- 6 minute film that can take the form of anything comical. It’s a great opportunity to show us your creative flair and have fun!

WHO CAN ENTER?

This award is open to all women filmmakers and content developers. The film must be an original narrative created, produced and devised by a woman, or women, although male cast and crew members are allowed.

ARE THERE ANY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MY FILM?

Yes – we require all films to be 6 minutes or under, to be entirely original dialogue, to not feature brand logos and most importantly, to only use music with the written consent of the performer and/or publisher either personally or via the PRS system https://www.prsformusic.com/ .

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH MY FILM?

We will broadcast selected entries on our Funny Women YouTube channel and social media (so keep an eye out) and the top 10 finalists’ films will also hosted on a dedicated Funny Women Comedy Shorts Awards page on our website. We will also broadcast the final 3 entries as part of the grand final night.

HOW IS IT JUDGED?

Films are judged for production, concept, delivery/performance, creativity, writing and overall funniness. The top 10 films are then viewed by an independent judging panel of top television and film industry professionals who will choose one overall winner and two runners up. The final three will be invited to attend the grand final in London on the 23rd September.

WHAT CAN I WIN?

2021 Funny Women Awards Prizes

The deadline for registration for the Comedy Shorts Award has passed.

If you need further information please contact us here