Just For Laughs Film Festival

Overview

The Just For Laughs Film Festival is the world's largest comedy film festival. Held annually in July in Montreal during the Just For Laughs comedy festival -- itself the world's largest comedy festival -- the film program presents comedy features, short films, and web series alongside the live performance events that attract comedians and audiences from around the world.

The festival's integration with the broader Just For Laughs festival creates an extraordinary context for comedy cinema. Filmmakers screen their work for audiences that include the world's most important comedy performers, agents, producers, and broadcasters who gather in Montreal each July.

Comedy has historically been underrepresented at serious film festivals, and the JFL Film Festival provides a dedicated platform that takes comedy cinema seriously on its own terms.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition -- comedy features competing for jury prizes
• Short Film Competition -- comedy short films
• Web Series Competition -- comedy web series
• Comedy Stand-Up Films -- filmed stand-up and variety content
• Industry Events -- professional activities for comedy filmmakers

What Filmmakers Should Know

JFL Film Festival accepts open submissions. For comedy filmmakers, the festival provides the most prestigious comedy-specific competitive platform available. The access to the Just For Laughs talent community creates unusual commercial opportunities through connections with agents, managers, and producers.

Major Awards

• Best Comedy Feature -- jury prize
• Best Comedy Short
• Best Comedy Web Series
• Audience Award

Festival History

The Just For Laughs Film Festival was founded in 2009 as an extension of the broader JFL comedy festival to include cinema.

See Also

For comedy filmmaking, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.