Hands-down, the funniest celebration with the biggest stars in comedy is the Just for Laughs Award Show! Don't miss the raucous festivities and sincere camaraderie as friends, mentors, and fellow comics honor the comedy stars who made us laugh the most in 2023.

2023 recipients include:
Quinta Brunson - Comedy Person of the Year, presented by Ramy Youssef
Bert Kreischer - Stand Up Comedian of the Year, presented by Neal Brennan
Ronny Chieng - Breakout Comedy Star of the Year, presented by Rachid Badouri
Mae Martin - Rising Comedy Star of the Year, presented by Carolyn Taylor
and
Rainn Wilson – Comedy Impact Award

Hosted by the master of Award Shows,
Comedian, James Davis

The most highly anticipated industry showcase which serves as a launching pad for the next generation of comedic talent, the infamous New Faces series will take place Wednesday, July 26 – Friday, July 28, 2023. Handpicked by JFL producers, this platform not only provides these emerging talents with invaluable exposure but also serves as a catalyst for their careers, opening doors to new opportunities, representation, and industry recognition. This showcase continues to be a celebrated tradition, shining a spotlight on the brightest comedy stars of tomorrow.

• Building Your Comedy Audience Up Close and Vertical presented by TikTok with Catherine Halaby, Hannah Berner, Jonathan Van Ness, Zarna Garg and Darcy Michael
• Variety's 10 Comics To Watch Uncensored!
• AIRPLANE! Live All-Star Cast Read directed by David Zucker
• Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!: In Conversation with David Zucker
• CRAVE presents: The Cast and Creators of THE DESSERT
• Faith In Comedy: In Conversation with Ramy Youssef
• Creating Compelling Characters in 2D and Beyond! with Billy Wee, Daniel Weidenfeld and Kelci Parker, moderated by Alec Botnick
• A Fireside Chat with David Eilenberg
• Canadian Pie: Steph Tolev Keynote Address
• Rainn Wilson Keynote Address
• State of the Industry Address with Jessica Kirson
• In Conversation with Please Don't Destroy

JFL welcomes back our partner Acast as the presenting sponsor of the ComedyPRO Premium Podcast Series with a wide range of hilarious comedian-hosted podcasts, including:

• The Webby Award-winning Let's Make A Sci-Fi
• What's Up Fool? with Felipe Esparza
• Kill Me Now with Judy Gold
• Steph Infection: The Podcast with Steph Tolev
• The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi
• Big Money Players podcasts; My Momma Told Me and StraightioLab
• The Comedy Store Podcast
• Night Talk with Dino Archie
• COME TO DADDY!
• Resting Bitch with Ali Macofsky

And the Acast hit podcasts:

• Phone A Friend with Jessi Cruickshank
• The Best Hang Podcast
• and the previously announced Giggly Squad.

Showcase

Catch the best and brightest from “10 Comics To Watch” and let them show you why they made the 2023 list. For the full list, visit here.

Participating in alphabetical order:

Hannah Berner, Kurtis Conner, Zarna Garg, Ian Lara, Joanne McNally, Leanne Morgan, Nimesh Patel, Brian Simpson, Sabrina Wu.

We sit down with Variety’s 2023 “10 Comics to Watch” for an hour of spontaneous and honest conversation about comedy. Hear about their struggles, epiphanies, crashes and breakthroughs, as these best and brightest comics of the year come together to share their comedy origin stories and what’s next for them on the road ahead.

Participating in alphabetical order:
Hannah Berner, Kurtis Conner, Zarna Garg, Ian Lara, Joanne McNally, Leanne Morgan, Nimesh Patel, Brian Simpson, Sabrina Wu.

NEW for ComedyPRO 2023!: The COMEDY ROUNDTABLE Program
Connect with fellow comedy professionals at JFL ComedyPRO’s exclusive one-hour roundtable sessions! Hosted by leaders of the comedy industry, you’ll enjoy access to uncensored insights relevant to performing, writing, producing and managing your projects and career.

Topics include:

• ‘Bringing your Culture to your Comedy’ with Sonia Gambaro, Vice President of Television at 3Pas Studios
• How to Maximize your General Meeting with Colin Davis, Vice President of Comedy Development at Sony
• ‘Landing the Audition’ with Cymbre Sklar, Vice President of Animation Casting at Netflix
• ‘Building the Perfect Comedy Pod’ with Yael Strasberg, Development Manager
• ‘How to Stand Out in Stand-Up' with Conan Smith, Head of Comedy, Don Buchwald & Associates

And more...

Comedy Roundtables are open to a maximum of 10 registered Industry and Industry Plus pass holders per session.

Stay tuned for open registration dates – coming soon!

Just For Laughs' annual short film competition, Eat My Shorts, is back! This year’s curated selection of the funniest short films from around the world include talking birds, thoughtful aliens, mind-blowing drug trips, and the Illuminati. Finalists include new films featuring Greta Lee (Past Lives), Ben Sinclair (High Maintenance), Jay Baruchel (BlackBerry), Adam Tsekhman (DC Legends of Tomorrow), Matt Jones (Breaking Bad), Bobby Lee (MadTV), and more!

Prizewinners will be selected by our jury; Jeremy Garelick (CEO, American High), Jonathan Stern (President, Abominable Pictures), and Allana Harkin (Director, Make Things Happen), plus our first ever Audience Award will be chosen by attendees at the event.

ComedyPRO’s long running and highly sought-after pitch program, Stand Up & Pitch, Presented by Project 10 Productions, is back for the 11th year. High-level tv professionals will offer their invaluable insight to the creators of a curated selection of new projects. The pitch panel will be moderated by Shelby Bronstine (Project 10) and include veteran tv executives from across the comedy spectrum. The top project will receive mentorship sessions from Andrew Barnsley and Shonna Foster (Project 10 Productions) and with seasoned comedian/showrunner, Anthony Q. Farrell (Shelved,The Office).

CBC returns as host of the popular CBC Comedy Pitch Program, showcasing a homegrown selection of exciting new talent and projects. The event will be moderated by Mike Allison (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), joined on stage by top CBC Comedy Executives Sarah Quan, Executive in Charge of Development, Comedy, and Greig Dymond, Director of Development & Head of Festivals, Comedy, and Zach Feldberg, Director of Current Production, Comedy and Head of Scripted Gem Originals and comedian/writer/director, Maddy Kelly (JFL’s The New Wave of Stand Up, The Slowest Show) who will give expert advice and mentorship to this new crop of Canada's most noteworthy rising comedy creators.