Introducing Funny Women Award winner Desiree Burch!

Picture of Kate Stone

Kate Stone

New York comedian Desiree Burch wowed us at the Funny Women Awards on Wednesday with her hilarious take on walking the streets of London and how her figure misleads New Yorkers from behind. Having danced on to the stage to collect her prize from our founder Lynne Parker, we caught up with the 2015 Funny Women Awards winner…

Lynne Parker & Desiree Burch's victory dance
Lynne Parker & Desiree Burch’s victory dance

Funny Women: How does it feel to be the winner of the 2015 Funny Women Awards?

Desiree Burch: It has been 24 hours of sunshine since the win on Wednesday night. Lots of lovely facebook likes and twitter follows and kudos from people I haven’t heard from in a minute. I stood in the shower Thursday morning with my body aches and my lack of sleep and tried to assess if I felt any different. I thought, “This is the body of a winner” and stood a little taller. And that ached too.

FW: What inspired you to enter the Funny Women Awards?

DB: I was encouraged to do so after doing a short spot on a Funny Women mixed bill show in Brighton. I have known other comics who have done the competition and have known about the work the organization has done for years. Now that I have moved to London, I realized this was my shot.

Desiree with prize

FW: How would you describe your comedy?

DB: Brash, thoughtful, loud and ranty, but with a tenderness to it – at least for the underdog, which I sometimes feel I am. I talk a lot about my perspectives as a big woman, a black woman, and a woman woman. Those insights can be new and insightful to some, and inclusive and comforting to others.

FW: You’re a New Yorker, what made you decide to move to London?

DB: A boy. Because I had gotten to my mid-thirties and hadn’t done anything big and potentially foolish over a boy yet. Seemed about time.  Plus, in my forays into performing in the UK, during Fringe festivals, it seemed like there was much more of a culture for live performance.

FW: We think you just gained a lot of fans! Where can we see you perform next?

DB: I am currently on tour with the live shows of the top 5 podcast “Welcome to Night Vale.” We are in Cardiff tonight, Bristol tomorrow and London Monday 28th to Wednesday 30th September. I head to the States in early October to perform and present at the NerdCon Stories convention, and will be doing shows with Funny Women after that – come to Komedia in Brighton on 24th October! There will be various other stand up spots happening soon. Those who want to know can follow me @destheray on Twitter.

FW: Who are your favourite funny women?

DB: Retta, Carol Burnett, Maria Bamford, Monique, Mindy Kaling, Kristen Wiig, Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers, Wanda Sykes, Amy Poehler, Debra Wilson, Kerri Kinney, Kristin Schaal, Tig Notaro, Aisha Tyler, Kitty Flanigan, Margaret Cho, Aparna Nancherla, Diane Spencer, Bea Arthur, Lily Tomlin, Melissa McCarthy, Carolyn Castiglia, Sarah Millican, Sheryl Underwood, Katherine Ryan, Aisling Bea, Dana Alexander, Tiff Stevenson, Jen Kirkman, Debra-Jane Appleby, Abigoliah Schamaun, Leslie Jones, Maya Rudolph, Kerry Godliman, and Abbi Jacobson & Ilana Glazer from Broad City.

FW: Any advice for anybody thinking about entering the Awards?

DB: Dig into your darkness and your difference. There is comedy gold to be mined from it when you share it with those who need to hear it. Try different modes of performance and develop your stage presence and your sense of ease with people. Be honest with yourself and your audiences. When audiences like and trust you, they’ll more easily go places with you.

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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