Comedy awards registrations open
Johannesburg – The 10th Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards (SCCCA) registrations have opened, with new categories and new management announced.
In a bid to take the appeal of the awards to a broader audience the Comics’ Choice team are introducing new categories. After the awards’ ninth instalment took place in 2019, it was touch-and-go whether it would be able to revive itself after Covid-19, especially as comedy clubs closed their doors and comedians adapted to a new performance arena, online.
The comedy awards are back, with a new name, new categories, new voting system and a new team bringing it all to life.
At the helm of the awards is entertainment marketing agency One-eyed Jack, the founders of the DStv Content Creator Awards and now new custodians of the Savanna Comics awards.
Managing director of One-eyed Jack, Manuela Dias de Deus says they have worked on the awards since 2012 with its previous owners, and have seen the difference it makes to the industry and comedians’ careers.
“Our aim is to rebuild the platform, support new talent, profile and celebrate industry icons. We are doing our bit to help SA’s incredible talent shine,” Dias de Deus says.
Brand manager of Savanna Cider Kayla Hendricks says the decade-long partnership with the SCCCA has been an important part of support for the local comedy industry that dates back to their premium cider brand’s launch.
“This platform allows Savanna to continue to uplift a nation through humour by celebrating the iconic SA comedians that keep SA laughing. The awards are a platform to showcase long-standing, and up-and-coming local talent, and to collaborate on how the industry grows and becomes a sustainable livelihood for the comedians,” Hendricks says.
Each winner will receive the Waldo statuette and a prize hamper worth R5 000.
New formats include Uplifting Comedy: For the best piece of uplifting comedy; Burn of the Year Award: For any tactical piece of content/social commentary; Funny Influencer Content: For the funniest influencer content, nominated by the comedy industry; Funny is Funny: If comedians think it’s funny, it’s funny; for the funniest ad in SA.
Stand-up comedy awards include Best Stand-Up Show Award; Best Comedy Festival / Show Award; Savanna Newcomer Award; Breakthrough Act of the Year Award; Comedian of the Year Award; Non-English Award and the Hall of Fame Award.
The Savanna Newcomer Showcase will take place in February 2023 and the awards will take place in April 2023 in Johannesburg.
Each winner will do a few minutes of comedy instead of an acceptance speech, and there will also be variety show sketches in the mix.
