As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when I hear about the resurgence of Just For Laughs. Back in the day, I remember eagerly tuning into late-night talk shows, scouring for clips from this legendary comedy festival that seemed to launch a thousand careers.
The annual Just For Laughs comedy festival, previously a significant platform for stand-up comedians in Hollywood, will make its comeback the following year with ComediHa! as its new proprietor.
After reorganizing following bankruptcy, plans are being made for a 11-day Just For Laughs festival from July 16 to 27, 2025. As Bruce Hills, the president, is no longer with the company, the position of chief comedy curator for the English edition will be taken over by Nick Brazao, who has recently been promoted to head of programming.
Over a span of 15 years, Brazao, who worked at JFL, occupied crucial roles in programming, management, and talent development. He also established connections with prominent American comedians, their representatives, and managers, which grew stronger as the festival broadened its influence on a worldwide scale.
2025’s Just For Laughs event will feature the comeback of the annual ComedyPRO conference, as it was absent during the summer edition of JFL in 2024. The absence occurred because ComediHa! finalized its acquisition of assets from Groupe Juste Pour Rire (former parent company) following a court-ordered bankruptcy protection in June 2024.
Reviving the JFL festival in English under a revamped Just For Laughs Entertainment Group received a boost when Loto-Québec agreed to be a major sponsor for the 2025 event. “Loto-Québec’s unparalleled support strengthens our standing as an industry leader in comedy and enables us to plan an exceptional 2025 edition,” said Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president and CEO of Just For Laughs, in a statement issued on Friday.
As a gaming enthusiast, when the news broke that ComediHa!, based in Quebec City, took over Just For Laughs assets, I, as part of Parent-Bedard’s live comedy show production company, was excited about the prospect of delivering an array of entertaining experiences tailored for our audiences in Quebec, Canada, and across the globe.
At ComediHa!, the return plan involves assuming some control previously held by Just For Laugh’s previous proprietors. This move allows American and international stand-up comedians an opportunity to showcase their acts globally while capitalizing on the financial benefits derived from touring concert earnings.
In the 1980s, Just for Laughs began as an annual event where talent scouts from Los Angeles and New York found upcoming stars for sitcoms and films in Hollywood. However, with the advent of the internet and social media as platforms for self-promoting comedians, the Just for Laughs festival has moved further along in the process of nurturing new comedy talent.
During the peak of the pandemic, the Montreal Festival, a significant cultural highlight of the city’s summer calendar, experienced a drop in revenue. Furthermore, its marketing and artistic programs were affected due to budget cuts at major American television networks and streaming platforms.
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2024-11-22 17:24