The Just For Laughs Comedy Festival has unveiled its list of top up-and-coming comedians in New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere, who are set to participate in the New Faces of Comedy showcase later this week. The event is a traditional launch pad for major Hollywood talent like Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Jimmy Fallon.
The success of their careers makes New Faces the industry’s biggest coming-out party for rising stand-up talent serious business. Young hopefuls eyeing Hollywood development deals grab the microphone at Just For Laughs in Montreal to draw laughter from a club audience as Los Angeles talent scouts, comedy agents and managers, TV execs and club bookers look on.
No pressure there. Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, who will receive the best comedy person award at the Just For Laughs ComedyPro conference later this week, was part of the New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
Over three days,...
The success of their careers makes New Faces the industry’s biggest coming-out party for rising stand-up talent serious business. Young hopefuls eyeing Hollywood development deals grab the microphone at Just For Laughs in Montreal to draw laughter from a club audience as Los Angeles talent scouts, comedy agents and managers, TV execs and club bookers look on.
No pressure there. Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, who will receive the best comedy person award at the Just For Laughs ComedyPro conference later this week, was part of the New Faces comic discovery program in 2017.
Over three days,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The parade of stars and VIPs partying on April 4 at Netflix’s Canadian headquarters launch had good reason to show up.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos hosted a glitzy bash in his new home base in Toronto, having invited Hollywood talent — like Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp; Suits actor Patrick J. Adams; Never Have I Ever actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan; and Robbie Amell, star of Upload, the sci-fi afterlife comedy shot in Vancouver — to rub shoulders with local Netflix execs like Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, who steer the streamer’s local content strategy north of the border.
“We’re excited to have a new home here in Toronto and are looking forward to all of the great work to come with the talented people in this country,” Sarandos said while toasting his party guests, who included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau; U.S. ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen; U.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos hosted a glitzy bash in his new home base in Toronto, having invited Hollywood talent — like Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp; Suits actor Patrick J. Adams; Never Have I Ever actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan; and Robbie Amell, star of Upload, the sci-fi afterlife comedy shot in Vancouver — to rub shoulders with local Netflix execs like Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, who steer the streamer’s local content strategy north of the border.
“We’re excited to have a new home here in Toronto and are looking forward to all of the great work to come with the talented people in this country,” Sarandos said while toasting his party guests, who included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau; U.S. ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen; U.
- 4/5/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Ryan Reynolds is set to headline Just for Laughs’ inaugural comedy festival in London.
Just for Laughs London, set to run March 2-5, 2023, will see Reynolds take part in an informal conversation about his career as a Hollywood actor, producer and co-owner of U.K.’s Wrexham soccer club, with Deadpool 2 co-star Rob Delaney moderating.
As Just for Laughs crosses the pond in partnership with Aeg, the Montreal-based chuckle fest will bring its trademark comedy club and arena shows and celebrity in-conversation and panel format. The four-day event will include U.K. TV host Graham Norton and The Duchess creator Katherine Ryan emceeing gala shows, and Richard Curtis, co-founder of Red Nose Day, hosting his own showcase of comedy talent.
Other stand-up show hosts include Aisling Bea, creator and star of Channel Four’s This Way Up, while Reggie Watts, Randy Feltface and...
Ryan Reynolds is set to headline Just for Laughs’ inaugural comedy festival in London.
Just for Laughs London, set to run March 2-5, 2023, will see Reynolds take part in an informal conversation about his career as a Hollywood actor, producer and co-owner of U.K.’s Wrexham soccer club, with Deadpool 2 co-star Rob Delaney moderating.
As Just for Laughs crosses the pond in partnership with Aeg, the Montreal-based chuckle fest will bring its trademark comedy club and arena shows and celebrity in-conversation and panel format. The four-day event will include U.K. TV host Graham Norton and The Duchess creator Katherine Ryan emceeing gala shows, and Richard Curtis, co-founder of Red Nose Day, hosting his own showcase of comedy talent.
Other stand-up show hosts include Aisling Bea, creator and star of Channel Four’s This Way Up, while Reggie Watts, Randy Feltface and...
- 11/21/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Just For Laughs Group has named Spencer Griffin Head Of Television Development. The announcement was made today by Groupe Ch, Bell Media and ICM Partners.
In his new role, Griffin will oversee various television projects under the Just For Laughs (Jfl) banner. He will be the creative mind behind developing specials and series for broadcast, cable and streamers. His responsibilities will include soliciting, procuring and developing new properties with both new and established talent, as well as continue foster Jfl’s relationships with artists. Griffin will report to Just For Laughs President, Bruce Hills.
“Nobody knows comedy talent like Jfl and, in my unbiased opinion, they’ve done it again,” joked Griffin. “In all seriousness, I’m thrilled for this new role and excited to get started.”
“Spencer is an incredible addition to our growing team, bringing unrivaled experience, creativity and vision to our TV department,” said Hills. “With...
In his new role, Griffin will oversee various television projects under the Just For Laughs (Jfl) banner. He will be the creative mind behind developing specials and series for broadcast, cable and streamers. His responsibilities will include soliciting, procuring and developing new properties with both new and established talent, as well as continue foster Jfl’s relationships with artists. Griffin will report to Just For Laughs President, Bruce Hills.
“Nobody knows comedy talent like Jfl and, in my unbiased opinion, they’ve done it again,” joked Griffin. “In all seriousness, I’m thrilled for this new role and excited to get started.”
“Spencer is an incredible addition to our growing team, bringing unrivaled experience, creativity and vision to our TV department,” said Hills. “With...
- 5/7/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Dave Chappelle, who shot to fame with film roles in Half Baked and Dave Chappelle's Block Party, is set to honor the Just For Laughs comedy festival at the upcoming Canadian Screen Awards for launching his career.
The comedy powerhouse, fresh off his Saturday Night Live hosting debut, will present Just For Laughs with an Icon Award on March 12 in Toronto, 25 years after festival COO Bruce Hills discovered a young Chappelle while sorting through a stack of videos of wannabe comics late one night.
Hills told The Hollywood Reporter about a tape he saw, featuring yet another...
The comedy powerhouse, fresh off his Saturday Night Live hosting debut, will present Just For Laughs with an Icon Award on March 12 in Toronto, 25 years after festival COO Bruce Hills discovered a young Chappelle while sorting through a stack of videos of wannabe comics late one night.
Hills told The Hollywood Reporter about a tape he saw, featuring yet another...
- 2/28/2017
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For a second straight year, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and Thruline Entertainment are teaming to stage live table reads of spec comedy pilots during the fest. They plan to stage two reads July 28 in Montreal: An American script to be directed by Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer), and a Canadian script to be directed by Jay Baruchel (Goon: Last Of The Enforcers, Man Seeking Woman). Bruce Hills and Paul Ronca continue to oversee this initiative for Just For…...
- 7/19/2016
- Deadline TV
IFC announced that they are picking up a total of eight new shows. In that tally is a little untitled action series about a psychotic criminal juggling a criminal enterprise and an active social life. The premise reads like “The Sopranos” meets “Dexter” and may be a potential hit for the channel if it is half as good as either of those shows. Executively produced by Spencer, Michael Prupas and Bruce Hills, and produced by Jesse Prupas and Evi Regev this show is one to keep an eye on. Source: http://www.fearnet.com Related Posts:Vampire Mob: A comedy that doesnt suck? – Season 1Film Review: Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter (1966)Film Review: Happy Town (tv series- season 1) (2010)Spook House Dave scares it up at My Damn ChannelVamps: Demona Bast©2010 Horror News.net | Horror Movies, News, Films, Free | Horror Reviews. All Rights Reserved..
- 11/10/2010
- by Cara Madison
- Horror News
Montreal -- Montreal's Just for Laughs comedy festival wrapped its English-language industry showcase over the weekend without U.S. network talent scouts pulling out their wallets.
As in recent years, performing comics secured hearty applause and the occasional standing ovation at comedy's Woodstock, with possible deal-making to follow down the road after meetings back in Los Angeles or New York.
The big stage in Montreal as ever was the twice-nightly galas at the St. Denis Theatre, hosted Saturday night by Steve Martin, who brought his banjo and his Steep Canyon Rangers bluegrass band.
"It feels good to be doing something purely for the money," Martin joked while making his first-ever Just for Laughs appearance.
Dane Cook was a late and unpublicized addition to the gala bill, at the request of Martin.
"No one expected Cook, so it really surprised and delighted the (St. Denis) audience," Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said Sunday.
As in recent years, performing comics secured hearty applause and the occasional standing ovation at comedy's Woodstock, with possible deal-making to follow down the road after meetings back in Los Angeles or New York.
The big stage in Montreal as ever was the twice-nightly galas at the St. Denis Theatre, hosted Saturday night by Steve Martin, who brought his banjo and his Steep Canyon Rangers bluegrass band.
"It feels good to be doing something purely for the money," Martin joked while making his first-ever Just for Laughs appearance.
Dane Cook was a late and unpublicized addition to the gala bill, at the request of Martin.
"No one expected Cook, so it really surprised and delighted the (St. Denis) audience," Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said Sunday.
- 7/18/2010
- by By Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bill Hicks is one of the most renowned cult figures in the world of comedy, adored across the world for his unique brand of astoundingly filthy yet spell-bindingly poetic satire. But relatively little is known about his personal life, and in the fifteen years since his untimely death, only a smattering of short documentaries and live recordings has kept his memory alive. Well Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas have put this glaring injustice to rights with their passionately detailed and evocative feature documentary, American: The Bill Hicks Story. They were granted unprecedented access to the Hicks’ estates mountainous archive of unseen footage and photographs collected by the wild man himself throughout his career. They have been given what may well be the last say on one of America’s most important spokespersons, and they have proved more than worthy of this huge responsibility. Tcr: How did a project like this leapfrog La,...
- 5/12/2010
- by Nicholas Deigman
- t5m.com
From a press release
Just For Laughs Comedy Conference Announces Artists!Keynote Speaker Lewis Black and the return of Andy Kindler.Conference Reaches Out to the Next Generation of Creative Talent.Comedy Bootcamp for Film: A Telefilm Canada, Canadian Film Centre and Just For Laughs Joint Initiative.Plus Returning Pitch Programs for Web & Television.July 15 – 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Montreal, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 – This year’s Just For Laughs Comedy Conference may leave you battered and bruised or laughing out loud, but it will definitely not leave you feeling indifferent. The keynote address will be delivered by that acerbic, but observant, angry man himself: Lewis Black. And The Late Show with David Letterman correspondent Andy Kindler returns with his annual ‘State of the Industry’ address, calling out all of comic royalty, including those in the room.
The Conference, coupled with the Just For Laughs Festival presented by Videotron, is The...
Just For Laughs Comedy Conference Announces Artists!Keynote Speaker Lewis Black and the return of Andy Kindler.Conference Reaches Out to the Next Generation of Creative Talent.Comedy Bootcamp for Film: A Telefilm Canada, Canadian Film Centre and Just For Laughs Joint Initiative.Plus Returning Pitch Programs for Web & Television.July 15 – 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Montreal, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 – This year’s Just For Laughs Comedy Conference may leave you battered and bruised or laughing out loud, but it will definitely not leave you feeling indifferent. The keynote address will be delivered by that acerbic, but observant, angry man himself: Lewis Black. And The Late Show with David Letterman correspondent Andy Kindler returns with his annual ‘State of the Industry’ address, calling out all of comic royalty, including those in the room.
The Conference, coupled with the Just For Laughs Festival presented by Videotron, is The...
- 3/10/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Fawlty Towers legend John Cleese was forced to scrap a performance at the world's biggest comedy festival this week (beg20Jul09) due to ill health.
The British star had been due to appear at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, Canada but cancelled on Wednesday so he could undergo treatment for inflammation of the prostate gland.
Organisers are now trying to rearrange the 69-year-old's show for Sunday.
The event's chief executive Bruce Hills says, "This is the first time this has happened in 25 years. This is something John Cleese has worked on for four months."
Cleese has taken to his personal Twitter.com page to assure fans he is recovering well after his treatment. He writes, "Feeling a bit better. May be strong enough to poke (my friend) Garry in the eye with a plastic fork, which is a sign that my strength is coming back..."...
The British star had been due to appear at the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, Canada but cancelled on Wednesday so he could undergo treatment for inflammation of the prostate gland.
Organisers are now trying to rearrange the 69-year-old's show for Sunday.
The event's chief executive Bruce Hills says, "This is the first time this has happened in 25 years. This is something John Cleese has worked on for four months."
Cleese has taken to his personal Twitter.com page to assure fans he is recovering well after his treatment. He writes, "Feeling a bit better. May be strong enough to poke (my friend) Garry in the eye with a plastic fork, which is a sign that my strength is coming back..."...
- 7/24/2009
- WENN
Montreal - Judd Apatow found himself in the spotlight once again Friday as he was honored at the Just Comedy conference with the inaugural Comedy Person of the Year Award.
Bruce Hills, Coo of Just Comedy organizer Just for Laughs, lauded Apatow for returning to standup in Montreal Thursday night with a marathon workload. "He did five standup sets last night, which I think is a record," Hills told a crowded room.
Stars of his films and friends roasted Apatow, with Bill Hader recalling how he told lunch time jokes in sixth grade that he ripped off from the award winner's MTV appearances back then. "There was this guy who performed in tight jeans, shirt tucked in and a mullet," he reminisced.
Seth Rogen thanked Apatow for allowing him to have money and a nice house.
Apatow himself started off saying one friend had to cut out early to catch "Batman" instead of his award presentation.
"I couldn't even fill the f*#ing room," he said, looking around. "And I'm the guy with the jobs."
He also told the crowd that he enjoyed a video montage of his film hits shown earlier in the program. "It just gives me credit for all the things others have done," Apatow quipped.
He also lauded many of his friends and partners along his career path.
For example, he lauded Ben Stiller as the "father" of a lot of current cutting-edge comedy. And Apatow thanked him and Garry Shandling for teaching him many important things. Will Ferrell and others were also on his list of people to thank.
Apatow closed by sharing the story of how he tried out for the Just for Laughs comedy festival when he was younger and didn't get in. But now, he finally found a way to get to Montreal and enjoyed every minute, he said.
Bruce Hills, Coo of Just Comedy organizer Just for Laughs, lauded Apatow for returning to standup in Montreal Thursday night with a marathon workload. "He did five standup sets last night, which I think is a record," Hills told a crowded room.
Stars of his films and friends roasted Apatow, with Bill Hader recalling how he told lunch time jokes in sixth grade that he ripped off from the award winner's MTV appearances back then. "There was this guy who performed in tight jeans, shirt tucked in and a mullet," he reminisced.
Seth Rogen thanked Apatow for allowing him to have money and a nice house.
Apatow himself started off saying one friend had to cut out early to catch "Batman" instead of his award presentation.
"I couldn't even fill the f*#ing room," he said, looking around. "And I'm the guy with the jobs."
He also told the crowd that he enjoyed a video montage of his film hits shown earlier in the program. "It just gives me credit for all the things others have done," Apatow quipped.
He also lauded many of his friends and partners along his career path.
For example, he lauded Ben Stiller as the "father" of a lot of current cutting-edge comedy. And Apatow thanked him and Garry Shandling for teaching him many important things. Will Ferrell and others were also on his list of people to thank.
Apatow closed by sharing the story of how he tried out for the Just for Laughs comedy festival when he was younger and didn't get in. But now, he finally found a way to get to Montreal and enjoyed every minute, he said.
- 7/18/2008
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Martin Short, Jason Alexander and Jimmy Fallon will host their own galas at the second annual Just for Laughs Toronto Festival in July, organizers said Tuesday.
Veteran American ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will also perform at Toronto's Massey Hall.
Other Just for Laughs highlights include comic showcases including the Asian Invasion, hosted by Canadian stand-up Sugar Sammy and to feature Jo Koy, and the Italian-themed Wiseguys show, headlined by the Doo-Wops, Joey Kola and Dom Irrera.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said the Toronto edition will remain tailored for a consumer market, unlike the industry-oriented Montreal run July 10-20 that attracts L.A. talent scouts and executives.
For its sophomore run, Just for Laughs Toronto will also for the first time fill local comedy clubs. The Headliners series at Yuk Yuk's will showcase Wendy Liebman, Kevin Hart, Gerry Dee, Al Madrigal, Australian comic Adam Hills, Jeff Ross and Elon Gold. The Absolute Comedy club will host a Canadian comic showcase, hosted by Debra DiGiovanni, while Second City will host "The Sketch Show", headlined by Craig Robinson.
Veteran American ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will also perform at Toronto's Massey Hall.
Other Just for Laughs highlights include comic showcases including the Asian Invasion, hosted by Canadian stand-up Sugar Sammy and to feature Jo Koy, and the Italian-themed Wiseguys show, headlined by the Doo-Wops, Joey Kola and Dom Irrera.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said the Toronto edition will remain tailored for a consumer market, unlike the industry-oriented Montreal run July 10-20 that attracts L.A. talent scouts and executives.
For its sophomore run, Just for Laughs Toronto will also for the first time fill local comedy clubs. The Headliners series at Yuk Yuk's will showcase Wendy Liebman, Kevin Hart, Gerry Dee, Al Madrigal, Australian comic Adam Hills, Jeff Ross and Elon Gold. The Absolute Comedy club will host a Canadian comic showcase, hosted by Debra DiGiovanni, while Second City will host "The Sketch Show", headlined by Craig Robinson.
- 5/27/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Related story: Wrap-up of Montreal's JFL
TORONTO -- Canada's Just for Laughs Festival is set to take over Toronto's Elgin Theater this week as it continues branching out from its Montreal roots at home and internationally.
Coming just days after the wrap of the parent JFL comedy festival in Montreal, veteran comics Howie Mandel, Craig Ferguson and Lewis Black will introduce a host of American comics to audiences here as part of the inaugural Just for Laughs Toronto, among them John Pinnette, Alonzo Bodden, Bill Burr, Kathleen Madigan and John Mendoza (HR 7/23).
Other comics booked for Toronto include Americans Richard Lewis, Jo Koy, Bob Marley, Greg Giraldo and Tom Papa as well as Canadians Jeremy Hotz, Russell Peters, Derek Edwards and Elvira Kurt.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills describes the Toronto edition, which wraps Saturday, as a mini-Montreal.
"Our idea for Toronto, to a large degree, is part of our 25th celebration. We've done many things around the world, and will continue this week," he said.
TORONTO -- Canada's Just for Laughs Festival is set to take over Toronto's Elgin Theater this week as it continues branching out from its Montreal roots at home and internationally.
Coming just days after the wrap of the parent JFL comedy festival in Montreal, veteran comics Howie Mandel, Craig Ferguson and Lewis Black will introduce a host of American comics to audiences here as part of the inaugural Just for Laughs Toronto, among them John Pinnette, Alonzo Bodden, Bill Burr, Kathleen Madigan and John Mendoza (HR 7/23).
Other comics booked for Toronto include Americans Richard Lewis, Jo Koy, Bob Marley, Greg Giraldo and Tom Papa as well as Canadians Jeremy Hotz, Russell Peters, Derek Edwards and Elvira Kurt.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills describes the Toronto edition, which wraps Saturday, as a mini-Montreal.
"Our idea for Toronto, to a large degree, is part of our 25th celebration. We've done many things around the world, and will continue this week," he said.
- 7/25/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MySpace marketers stand up for comedy
MONTREAL -- The digital transformation of the entertainment industry also has changed the comedy business in recent years, and this week's 25th annual Just for Laughs comedy festival here, and its attendees provide plenty of evidence.
"There are so many people who are coming from these new Web, viral video and other departments," said JFL vp programming Maureen Taran. "We have a lot of people coming from the networks and studios on that end. And we have those production companies, such as Endemol, that produce content for the Web."
And next year could bring a further boost of attendees from nontraditional parts of the industry as JFL plans to introduce in 2008 the World Comedy Conference as a comedy marketplace for a global industry working across various platforms.
"We have successfully brought in people from new media, but we can do more," JFL COO Bruce Hills said at a press conference to unveil the new event.
Paul Wagner, vp acquisitions and development at mobile video firm Mocondi, is one of the digital industry representatives at JFL this year, and its his first-ever visit to the annual comedy fixture.
MONTREAL -- The digital transformation of the entertainment industry also has changed the comedy business in recent years, and this week's 25th annual Just for Laughs comedy festival here, and its attendees provide plenty of evidence.
"There are so many people who are coming from these new Web, viral video and other departments," said JFL vp programming Maureen Taran. "We have a lot of people coming from the networks and studios on that end. And we have those production companies, such as Endemol, that produce content for the Web."
And next year could bring a further boost of attendees from nontraditional parts of the industry as JFL plans to introduce in 2008 the World Comedy Conference as a comedy marketplace for a global industry working across various platforms.
"We have successfully brought in people from new media, but we can do more," JFL COO Bruce Hills said at a press conference to unveil the new event.
Paul Wagner, vp acquisitions and development at mobile video firm Mocondi, is one of the digital industry representatives at JFL this year, and its his first-ever visit to the annual comedy fixture.
- 7/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MONTREAL -- Just For Laughs on Thursday unveiled plans to expand its industry offerings by adding a dedicated comedy marketplace to its annual comedy festival starting next year in partnership with Achilles Media, the producer of the Banff World Television Festival.
Just For Laughs gurus Gilbert Rozon and Bruce Hills, as well as Robert Montgomery, CEO of Achilles Media, unveiled the plans for The World Comedy Conference here.
They said their hope is to expand industry turnout from currently about 1,000 attendees, allow a more focused discovery of the hottest comedic ideas and really bringing together talent and industry folks from around the world.
The World Comedy Conference is planned as a two-day event for broadcasters, TV and film producers, studio executives, agents, writers, digital content aggregators and creators, financiers and others.
Programming will include networking sessions, a conference program, people's choice-style awards and a marketplace, including open and one-one pitching sessions.
The companies said the conference will also feature a "customized VIP tour of the hottest acts to appear at Just For Laughs," a dedicated pilots' market, as well as Comedia, the Just For Laughs film portion, which Hills said is now in its 11th year and deserves to be taken to the next level.
Just For Laughs gurus Gilbert Rozon and Bruce Hills, as well as Robert Montgomery, CEO of Achilles Media, unveiled the plans for The World Comedy Conference here.
They said their hope is to expand industry turnout from currently about 1,000 attendees, allow a more focused discovery of the hottest comedic ideas and really bringing together talent and industry folks from around the world.
The World Comedy Conference is planned as a two-day event for broadcasters, TV and film producers, studio executives, agents, writers, digital content aggregators and creators, financiers and others.
Programming will include networking sessions, a conference program, people's choice-style awards and a marketplace, including open and one-one pitching sessions.
The companies said the conference will also feature a "customized VIP tour of the hottest acts to appear at Just For Laughs," a dedicated pilots' market, as well as Comedia, the Just For Laughs film portion, which Hills said is now in its 11th year and deserves to be taken to the next level.
- 7/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MONTREAL -- On the 25th anniversary of the Just for Laughs comedy festival, it comes as no surprise that performers and other industry folks are reminiscing about the changing industry and their experiences in this host city.
"It's been fascinating for me to watch comedy grow over the years," JFL chief operating officer Bruce Hills said on the eve of his 22nd festival. "In my first year here, comedy was a (small) nightclub business. Now it is big."
And while in the old days Bill Cosby and a handful of other select names could draw a crowd, "there are now many strong niches" and talent to fill demand in them, he added.
Talent is exactly what a whole slew of industry folks saw in Tammy Pescatelli when she appeared in the festival's annual New Faces showcase of up-and-comers in 2002.
Although she had several years of comedy experience at the time, she had no manager or agent. Gersh quickly signed her, and Pescatelli has since been a successful tour comic, appeared on the "Tonight Show" and "Last Comic Standing", among other TV shows, and will be seen in two films this fall.
"It's just been amazing", Pescatelli said as she prepared for her third JFL, which began Wednesday. "The festival really jump-started my career."
But she said she wants to continue to show Montreal -- and other places, for that matter -- how she has evolved as a performer. "It's now five years after my first show at the festival, and I have a lot of different material," she said.
"It's been fascinating for me to watch comedy grow over the years," JFL chief operating officer Bruce Hills said on the eve of his 22nd festival. "In my first year here, comedy was a (small) nightclub business. Now it is big."
And while in the old days Bill Cosby and a handful of other select names could draw a crowd, "there are now many strong niches" and talent to fill demand in them, he added.
Talent is exactly what a whole slew of industry folks saw in Tammy Pescatelli when she appeared in the festival's annual New Faces showcase of up-and-comers in 2002.
Although she had several years of comedy experience at the time, she had no manager or agent. Gersh quickly signed her, and Pescatelli has since been a successful tour comic, appeared on the "Tonight Show" and "Last Comic Standing", among other TV shows, and will be seen in two films this fall.
"It's just been amazing", Pescatelli said as she prepared for her third JFL, which began Wednesday. "The festival really jump-started my career."
But she said she wants to continue to show Montreal -- and other places, for that matter -- how she has evolved as a performer. "It's now five years after my first show at the festival, and I have a lot of different material," she said.
- 7/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- The Just for Laughs comedy festival is kicking into high gear Wednesday, and it already feels like an eventful day midday.
Thunderstorms on the East Coast delayed some comics who were set to fly to Montreal on Wednesday morning for appearances at the festival, according to sources.
Among the delayed comics apparently were Mike DeStefano and Joey Kola, who are both scheduled for JFL's popular "Wiseguys" show of Italian comics.
It was not clear how long they were delayed and whether the festival would have to change any show lineups as a result.
Rain and lightning led to a slew of flight cancellations at New York's La Guardia airport, among others.
JFL announced a Thursday news conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel with festival gurus Gilbert Rozon and Bruce Hills, as well as Robert Montgomery of Achilles Media. They were set to unveil plans for the inaugural World Comedy Conference. No details about the event were available.
Thunderstorms on the East Coast delayed some comics who were set to fly to Montreal on Wednesday morning for appearances at the festival, according to sources.
Among the delayed comics apparently were Mike DeStefano and Joey Kola, who are both scheduled for JFL's popular "Wiseguys" show of Italian comics.
It was not clear how long they were delayed and whether the festival would have to change any show lineups as a result.
Rain and lightning led to a slew of flight cancellations at New York's La Guardia airport, among others.
JFL announced a Thursday news conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel with festival gurus Gilbert Rozon and Bruce Hills, as well as Robert Montgomery of Achilles Media. They were set to unveil plans for the inaugural World Comedy Conference. No details about the event were available.
- 7/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MONTREAL -- Rowan Atkinson, Rob Corddry and Marlon Wayans will next month headline Comedia, the Just for Laughs comedy festival's film sidebar, organizers said Tuesday.
Britain's Atkinson will be in Montreal to introduce a screening of "Mr. Bean's Holiday" while Corddry will stump for his latest feature, "The Ten". Also bound for the 11th installment of Comedia is French director Michel Boujenah ("Three Men and a Baby"), who will preview his latest comedy, "3 Amis", as well as the French version of "Hairspray".
Wayans will host "The Best of Comedia" showcase on July 18.
Just For Laughs COO Bruce Hills told reporters that Comedia, set to run July 12-22, is the largest festival of comic shorts worldwide.
Hills described this year's lineup as "by far the most ambitious festival to date," with a record 125 short films from 16 countries unspooling.
Also on tap for Montreal, as part of Comedia's "Big Stars, Short Films" program, is "My Wife is Retarded", an off-the-wall exploration of mariage from Sean Astin; "I Am Bob?" which portrays rock star Bob Geldoff auditioning for the role of a Bob Geldof impersonator; and a mockumentary from Rainn Wilson ("The Office") titled "Lance is a Jerk", in which he plays the personal assistant of cycling legend Lance Armstrong.
Britain's Atkinson will be in Montreal to introduce a screening of "Mr. Bean's Holiday" while Corddry will stump for his latest feature, "The Ten". Also bound for the 11th installment of Comedia is French director Michel Boujenah ("Three Men and a Baby"), who will preview his latest comedy, "3 Amis", as well as the French version of "Hairspray".
Wayans will host "The Best of Comedia" showcase on July 18.
Just For Laughs COO Bruce Hills told reporters that Comedia, set to run July 12-22, is the largest festival of comic shorts worldwide.
Hills described this year's lineup as "by far the most ambitious festival to date," with a record 125 short films from 16 countries unspooling.
Also on tap for Montreal, as part of Comedia's "Big Stars, Short Films" program, is "My Wife is Retarded", an off-the-wall exploration of mariage from Sean Astin; "I Am Bob?" which portrays rock star Bob Geldoff auditioning for the role of a Bob Geldof impersonator; and a mockumentary from Rainn Wilson ("The Office") titled "Lance is a Jerk", in which he plays the personal assistant of cycling legend Lance Armstrong.
- 6/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Montreal's Just for Laughs comedy festival on Wednesday unveiled plans for an inaugural event in July in Toronto.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said at a news conference that the first Toronto event will comprise three nights of indoor galas and two days of outdoor street theater July 26-28. Unlike Montreal, the event will be geared toward the public and contain no industry component.
While Hills was tight-lipped about bookings, he insisted that the comedy star wattage will reflect the best talent to appear in Montreal during the past 25 years, with a strong contingent of American stand-up artists thrown into the mix.
"We'll have the biggest names in comedy, including artists from Ireland, the U.K. and even the Middle East," he said, in addition to a big turnout of Canadian talent.
The city of Toronto contributed $CAN500,000 ($427,000) to the anticipated CAN$3 million ($2.5 million) budget for JFL Toronto, with the Ontario provincial government putting in another $CAN400,000 ($341,000).
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said at a news conference that the first Toronto event will comprise three nights of indoor galas and two days of outdoor street theater July 26-28. Unlike Montreal, the event will be geared toward the public and contain no industry component.
While Hills was tight-lipped about bookings, he insisted that the comedy star wattage will reflect the best talent to appear in Montreal during the past 25 years, with a strong contingent of American stand-up artists thrown into the mix.
"We'll have the biggest names in comedy, including artists from Ireland, the U.K. and even the Middle East," he said, in addition to a big turnout of Canadian talent.
The city of Toronto contributed $CAN500,000 ($427,000) to the anticipated CAN$3 million ($2.5 million) budget for JFL Toronto, with the Ontario provincial government putting in another $CAN400,000 ($341,000).
- 3/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Montreal's Just for Laughs comedy festival on Wednesday Will unveil plans for a summer comedy festival in Toronto to launch in July.
Executives at Just For Laughs were tight-lipped Monday about their plans for Toronto, but a press conference that includes Toronto Mayor David Miller, JFL president and founder Gilbert Rozon and JFL chief operating officer Bruce Hills has been called for Wednesday afternoon.
The Montreal comedy festival, which annually helps Los Angeles talent scouts find talent for Hollywood movies and U.S. network shows, has long staged touring shows in Toronto.
But Toronto city councillors in late January approved a CAN$500,000 ($427,000) loan to launch the Toronto Just for Laughs comedy festival, in partnership with Just For Laughs.
As part of the deal, the Just For Laughs group will run the inaugural Toronto festival, to run July 19-July 22, just ahead of the English-language section of the Montreal-based festival.
The city of Toronto in turn will help bankroll the comedy festival, which anticipates an annual budget of about CAN$3 million ($2.56 million).
Executives at Just For Laughs were tight-lipped Monday about their plans for Toronto, but a press conference that includes Toronto Mayor David Miller, JFL president and founder Gilbert Rozon and JFL chief operating officer Bruce Hills has been called for Wednesday afternoon.
The Montreal comedy festival, which annually helps Los Angeles talent scouts find talent for Hollywood movies and U.S. network shows, has long staged touring shows in Toronto.
But Toronto city councillors in late January approved a CAN$500,000 ($427,000) loan to launch the Toronto Just for Laughs comedy festival, in partnership with Just For Laughs.
As part of the deal, the Just For Laughs group will run the inaugural Toronto festival, to run July 19-July 22, just ahead of the English-language section of the Montreal-based festival.
The city of Toronto in turn will help bankroll the comedy festival, which anticipates an annual budget of about CAN$3 million ($2.56 million).
- 3/27/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- The Just for Laughs comedy festival and Canadian producer Muse Entertainment on Monday jumped into the scripted TV and movie comedy business together.
The Montreal-based producing partnership, Just for Laughs Muse Comedy Prods., will kick off with "O'Cannabis", a feature comedy set in an imagined Canada where marijuana is legal and hookahs compete with hockey for the attention of Canadians.
Montreal-based Muse, a veteran drama producer, earlier produced the mockumentary "The Tournament" for Just for Laughs and series creator Howard Busgang. The hockey-themed show aired for two seasons on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Canada and OLN in the U.S.
Thomas Schlamme ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") is developing the series format for Warner Bros. Television, while Sue Vertue ("Men Behaving Badly") is doing the same for the BBC in the U.K.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said it makes sense for his festival, a veteran producer of live and variety TV programming, to cement its partnership with Muse and its expertise in scripted fare.
The Montreal-based producing partnership, Just for Laughs Muse Comedy Prods., will kick off with "O'Cannabis", a feature comedy set in an imagined Canada where marijuana is legal and hookahs compete with hockey for the attention of Canadians.
Montreal-based Muse, a veteran drama producer, earlier produced the mockumentary "The Tournament" for Just for Laughs and series creator Howard Busgang. The hockey-themed show aired for two seasons on the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Canada and OLN in the U.S.
Thomas Schlamme ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") is developing the series format for Warner Bros. Television, while Sue Vertue ("Men Behaving Badly") is doing the same for the BBC in the U.K.
Just for Laughs COO Bruce Hills said it makes sense for his festival, a veteran producer of live and variety TV programming, to cement its partnership with Muse and its expertise in scripted fare.
- 3/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival on Tuesday named veteran talent manager Maureen Taran as its vp of programming, replacing longtime programr Jodi Lieberman. Taran, a Montreal native, most recently ran her own New York City-based talent management business, the Taran Co., after working for nine years at the Barry Katz Entertainment Group. She will rejoin the Just For Laughs organization this fall after first cutting her teeth in comedy while working as a talent logistics coordinator at the festival during the early 1990s. Working alongside Just For Laughs chief operating officer Bruce Hills and the rest of the programming team in Montreal, Taran said she aims at extending the festival's brand south of the border.
- 7/25/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TORONTO -- Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival on Tuesday named veteran talent manager Maureen Taran as its vp of programming, replacing longtime programr Jodi Lieberman. Taran, a Montreal native, most recently ran her own New York City-based talent management business, the Taran Co., after working for nine years at the Barry Katz Entertainment Group. She will rejoin the Just For Laughs organization this fall after first cutting her teeth in comedy while working as a talent logistics coordinator at the festival during the early 1990s. Working alongside Just For Laughs chief operating officer Bruce Hills and the rest of the programming team in Montreal, Taran said she aims at extending the festival's brand south of the border.
- 7/25/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Jim Belushi, Dame Edna, Eddie Izzard, Greg Proops, one-person shows by Tommy Tiernan and Judy Gold, a tribute to British humor and an expanded program of special events, including ones with cast members of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and SpongeBob SquarePants, will be among the highlights at this year's Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. "With this year's festival we continue to present an unmatched lineup of programming for fans and the industry to discover," said JFL chief operating officer Bruce Hills in unveiling the key elements of the program for the annual event, which takes place July 14-24. Hills also promised more standup performers than ever before. In one important change to previous festivals, JFL this year will feature a series of special events celebrating some of the biggest shows on TV.
- 5/26/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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