Rich Hall has won best show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Source: Supplied
COMEDY veteran Rich Hall has finally been crowned the king of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
The popular American stand-up took out the prestigious Barry Award for best show after 15 runs at the festival and two nominations.
Hall had already left the country when he was named the winner of Australia's biggest comedy prize at the awards ceremony at the Festival Club early this morning.
He beat local finalists Hannah Gadsby, Kitty Flanagan, Michael Workman and John Conway, as well as hotly favoured internationals Trevor Noah and Max and Ivan.
In other festival awards:
* The Best Newcomer Award went to Luke McGregor for his show My Soulmate is Out of My League.
* The Piece of Wood Award, voted by festival comedians, went to David Quirk and his show Shaking Hands with Danger.
* The Golden Gibbo, awarded to a local independent show that bucks trends, went to Simon Keck for Nob Happy Sock.
* The Director's Choice Award went to Mel Buttle for How Embarrassment.
* The People's Choice Award went to Arj Barker for Go Time.
Festival director Susan Provan said it was a close contest for the Barry, named after performing legend Barry Humphries.
The original field of more than 1000 performers was narrowed down to a shortlist of seven, with several others just missing out on final berths.
The festival ends today with most comedians putting on their final shows tonight. The Moosehead Awards Benefit will be held at the Melbourne Town Hall from 8pm.
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