VicScreen and Melbourne International Comedy Festival launch Originate Comedy – VicScreen and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival have joined forces on Originate Comedy, a new development pathway designed to take Victorian comedy ideas from stage to screen.
The program is calling for Victorian comedy writers and stand-ups to pitch narrative comedy series concepts. Successful applicants will develop their idea into a half-hour pilot script with international comedy mentorship.
For TV Central readers, the announcement is a notable investment in the local screen pipeline. It connects live comedy with scripted television development. It also gives emerging Victorian creators a clearer route from a strong festival idea to an industry-ready screen project.
A New Comedy Incubator
Originate Comedy will take four projects from early concept to performance-ready pilot scripts. The three-stage incubator will end with a live reading event at the 2027 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Selected projects and teams will take part in masterclasses with leading comedy writers. They will then work one-on-one with a dedicated international script editor. The projects will also be workshopped with local performers and comedy professionals before final review.
From Pitch To Showcase
Up to two projects will be selected for a showcase at the 2027 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The staged readings will be performed by Australian comedy performers and festival headliners.
The showcase will put new Victorian comedy concepts in front of festival audiences and industry decision-makers. That group includes producers, commissioners and investors.
VicScreen And MICF Back New Talent
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said strong screen comedy begins with a clear premise and a distinctive voice. She said Originate Comedy is designed to help creators turn bold ideas into market-ready projects.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival incoming CEO and Festival Director Dylan Cole said the festival has long been a place where comedy talent is discovered and developed. He said the partnership can create new opportunities across writing, performance and production.
Applications
Applications for Originate Comedy open on Monday 10 August 2026 and close on Thursday 10 September 2026.
For more screen industry stories, visit TV Central’s News section. Application details are available from VicScreen.
