Montreux fest seeks UK talent

A major international comedy competition is coming to the UK for the first time.

The Montreux Comedy Festival’s talent hunt is seeking stand-ups from across Britain, the US and English-speaking Africa – with five finalists flown to the Swiss festival.

Entries have now opened for the competition, with videos of up to five minutes whittled down by a combination of expert opinion and online votes.

But entrants need to be aware of rules that prohibit obscenity, ‘crude, vulgar or offensive depictions’, humiliation of other people, jokes condoning illegal drug use or alcohol abuse; and anything deemed to be explicit, graphic or depicts excessive sexual activity and gratuitous violence.

Winners will get to take part in the Montreux Comedy Festival, with flights and accommodation covered. The festival is celebrating its 25th year and runs from December 4 to 8. Enter here.

The festival, which boasts of being the biggest comedy festival in mainland Europe, has also just appointed Andrew Eborn, president of London-based online video platform Octopus TV, as chairman. Montreux chief executive Grégoire Furrer said: ‘Montreux Comedy must become one of the biggest brands in comedy worldwide within five years. In order to reach that goal, we will focus on digital technology and social media.’

Published: 9 Sep 2014