The AACTA Reg Grundy Award Recipient Announced

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) today announced the recipient of the AACTA Reg Grundy Award, which comes with a $50,000 prize towards the development of a new TV entertainment format.

Following a final pitch to a panel of established television production experts, including Debbie Cuell, Steve Oemcke, Sharon Wheeler, Marion Farrelly, and Ian Hogg, the judges selected Seriously Funny as the winning TV show concept. Featuring stand-up comedy and TV veteran Rachel Berger, Seriously Funny is a factual entertainment series following a diverse group of people, as they develop their unique personal stories into a 5-minute stand-up comedy routine. The show, to be directed by Josh Ben-Moshe, was recognised for using stand-up comedy as a lens through which to explore people from all walks of life as they reveal their true selves through the hilarious and therapeutic interventions of Rachel’s stand-up workshops.  

Rachel Berger said of the experience, “Seriously Funny wasn’t spawned from the way I look at things, but from the things I choose to not look away from. Winning the AACTA Reg Grundy Award creates the opportunity for me to garner all my experience as a comedian to create a television show where I guide a group of ordinary people albeit with extraordinary experiences, through the process of delivering a five-minute stand-up comedy routine.

“Now is when the hard works begins. AACTA and this award offer a compass to navigate the labyrinth of making television. I’m grateful to AACTA and the talented and generous judges for their supportive encouragement and productive feedback. The mentoring sessions provided clarity and a headache. But they were mightily worth every milligram of medication. I’m deeply appreciative for this opportunity.”

AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic said, “Seriously Funny perfectly captures the power of stand up to reveal truths, sometimes uncomfortable, that helps us to understand how we are all very different but also very similar. It’s a solid returnable series concept that is fronted by an amazingly talented and experienced performer in Rachel Berger, whose hilarity is only matched by her empathy. It’ll make you laugh – a lot, and it’ll make you cry – and AACTA, our judges, and our industry partners cannot wait to bring this to our screens.”

In partnership with Grundy Media, the AACTA Reg Grundy Award is dedicated to fostering bold new ideas in screen entertainment and expediting the development of innovative productions in honour of the late television visionary Reg Grundy. Following the recent loss of Reg Grundy’s wife, Joy Chambers Grundy, who played a significant role in the establishment of this Award, the initiative continues to celebrate the legacy of Reg and Joy’s lifelong passion for entertaining TV audiences through its innovative, annual search for Australia’s next great television show.

In addition to Seriously Funny, four other new TV show concepts made it through to the 2024 Reg Grundy Award final, and AACTA congratulates all of the talented creators: Bragging Rights by Myles Glaspole, High School Reunion by Mara Blazic, I Challenge You by Nicholas Bufalo, and Your Local by Bradley Hall and Renee Billinghurst.