AACTA & Meta Announce a New Partnership and Investment in Future Comedy Creators

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts has joined forces with Meta to foster mutual growth, develop unique opportunities, and invest in the future of comedy creators. 

AACTA and Meta continue to pioneer new ways in supporting Australian content creators and are excited to announce an annual development workshop series for past and future LMAO winners. The LMAO grand prize winners have been offered an exclusive invite to create content in Meta’s state-of-the-art Sydney studio. Each winner will be given access to the array of professional camera equipment, lighting, a full crew to create an original piece of content and learn from some of Australia’s biggest names in digital media; understand tricks of the trade, production skills to elevate their content, and tips to grow and develop their platforms and individual brand. 

AACTA LMAO, proudly supported by Meta, is a monthly comedy competition for up-and-coming content creators. A rotating calendar of top Australian comedians and digital creators review entrants’ short form comedy videos based on a chosen monthly theme. Meta provides a $1,000 cash prize for the winning entry every month, as chosen by the current judge. Additional prizes are on offer for runner ups as decided by AACTA, Meta, and The Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

With an audience of over 13 million across Facebook and Instagram, legendary comedy reviewer Ethan Marrell - better known as Ozzy Man Reviews – is February’s guest judge, with the fitting content theme of Aussie.   

Honouring the fabulousness of Mardi Gras in March, we’re thrilled to announce our guest judge is Australia’s biggest Glamazon, the iconic content creator Matt Hey (Alright Hey).

In 2021, Meta became an official partner of the AACTA Awards, with Facebook presenting the inaugural award for Best Short Form Comedy to All My Friends are Racist. Continuing their support of the Australian screen industry, Meta also produced two events for the 2021 AACTA ScreenFest program aimed at empowering and educating short form content creators.

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic says: “We’ve had such a great response to LMAO so far, and we couldn’t be happier to be partnering with Meta to help take our emerging digital content creators to the next level. Our creative and very funny LMAO alumni will receive invaluable access and expertise and we really look forward to seeing where they’ll take their comedy next.”

AACTA ScreenFest is available until the end of February, sign up for your free account now and watch up on the biggest names in Australian screen.

• The short-from digital creators who are slaying it, presented by Meta – They’ve amassed millions of followers between them and have launched multiple successful off-platform empires. Tanya Hennessy and Christian Hull have paved the way for young tech-savvy comedians, and their tips and tricks will be shared in this exciting discussion.
• The Rise of the Creator Economy, presented by Meta – How do creators build communities, make an income, and best work with brands? Dan Neary, Meta VP Entertainment APAC, hosts this panel with chef, media-publisher and businesswoman Marion Grasby, Indonesian mega-creator Thariq Halilintar, and MD of We Are Social, Susie Shaw.

Meta Strategic Partnerships Manager, Kirsty Wilson says "Meta is committed to investing in emerging digital content creators, and fostering communities to allow creators to share, and collaborate together. We are proud to partner with AACTA to work with some of Australia's brightest new comedy creators."