A new comedy competition forum that connects emerging talent with investors debuted Friday at the Macao International Comedy Festival.

A photo captures a scene from the stage play "Parenting 404: Son Not Found" at a comedy pitch event during the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

"The New Talents: Comedy Venture Capital Forum" is China's first platform where comedy screenwriters can pitch their work to potential investors through stage performances. 

Held in Hengqin, Guangdong province adjacent to Macao, the event featured directors Feng Xiaogang and Xu Zheng and comedy stars Shen Teng and Ma Li as judges. The forum aims to help emerging comedians secure funding, gain access to industry resources and find creative collaborators, helping transform their script ideas into marketable productions.

The competition drew more than 300 original stage play submissions across genres from urban comedy to absurdist theater and dark humor. After selection and development, six finalists presented their scripts through immersive performances.

The program also included an artificial intelligence component, with organizers saying AI helped screenwriters find inspiration and explore new approaches to comedy.

A photo captures a scene from the stage play "Bullets, Booze & Blessed Bastard" at a comedy pitch event during the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

After performances filled with laughter and the judges' heated deliberations, playwright Ji Yun's stage play "Parenting 404: Son Not Found" emerged as the biggest winner of the evening, claiming the grand prize for best story along with its 500,000 yuan ($69,000) award. The production also won the best incubation award, selected by industry guests and investors attending the event who were not part of the official judging panel.

Other honorees also received recognition at the event. Leong U Pou's "Genie Mischief" received the jury's special award. Sang Kezhou's "Bullets, Booze & Blessed Bastard" earned the most promising production award with a 200,000 yuan prize from sponsor Sands China Ltd. Guan Xin and Qu Mufei's "Sky Trap" rounded out the accolades, receiving the best creativity award with a 300,000 yuan prize.

"Comedy should mirror everyday experiences," Ji said during his acceptance. "By articulating what audiences feel but can't express, we find boundless creativity. Our art must both originate from and return to the people."

Director Xu Zheng, one of the four judges, shared his vision at the awards ceremony: "I want to see greater diversity in comedy. May more comedic works flourish across all cultures and contexts."

Filmmakers Feng Xiaogang, Xu Zheng and comedy stars Shen Teng and Ma Li serve as judges at a comedy pitch event during the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 11, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

The second Macao International Comedy Festival runs through Sunday across Hengqin and Macao, featuring comedians, film screenings, performances, forums and an evening gala.