Rhys Nicholson has won the award for the most outstanding show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

The comic scooped the accolade for his stand-up hour Rhys! Rhys! Rhys!, which will be heading to the Edinburgh Fringe this August.

Best newcomer went to Frankie McNair for their unapologetically silly debut, Relax Your Knees.

The Pinder Prize, which helps a performer bring a show to Assembly at Edinburgh, went to another of the main award, nominees, Danielle Walker, for her show Nostalgia.

The Director’s Choice Award, selected by festival boss Susan Provan, was divided between festival stalwart Wil Anderson and newcomer Bronwyn Kuss.

The Piece Of Wood – a literal piece of wood whose winner is chosen by the comedians who have previously won it – went to Wes Snelling who performs this year as Tina Del Twist.

And the Golden Gibbo, given to artistically creative local independent productions in memory of the late Lynda Gibson went to Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical, based on the life of Schapelle Corby, who was arrested for drug smuggling in Bali in 2005.

The full list of nominees for most outstanding show was:

• Aaron Chen: If It Weren’t Filmed Nobody Would Believe
• Cameron James: Electric Dreams
• Danielle Walker: Nostalgia
• Geraldine Quinn: Broad
• Greg Larsen: We All Have Bloody Thoughts
• Laura Davis: If This Is It
• Rhys Nicholson: Rhys! Rhys! Rhys

And the best newcomer nominees were:

• Bronwyn Kuss: Any Goss?
• Frankie McNair: Relax Your Knees
• Mish Wittrup: Soy Fat White
• Steph Broadbridge: Hot Chick/Tired Mum
• Will McKenna: Appellation
• Sunanda Loves Britney