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Just For Laughs speed pitching
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JUST FOR LAUGHS SPEED PITCHING is an exciting initiative launching at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, as part of ComedyPRO! Designed to be fast-paced and high-energy, this exciting program offers a rare and valuable opportunity for emerging and established talent alike—whether producers, writers, comedians, or content creators—to bring their most innovative and entertaining concepts to the table.
Participants will have the chance to pitch their original scripted and unscripted TV projects directly to top-tier industry professionals in a series of rapid one-on-one, speed-dating style meetings, lasting approximately 5 minutes each. These professionals will include major network executives, studio development teams, talent agents, production companies, and other key decision-makers from across the global entertainment landscape.
Whether you have an idea for a hit comedy series or a boundary-pushing unscripted format, this is your moment to get your ideas in front of the people who can help bring them to life.
If you’ve got a great idea and the passion to pitch it—this is the stage (or table!).
Fast. Focused. Funny. Submit now for a chance to pitch at Just For Laughs!
Participants will have the chance to pitch their original scripted and unscripted TV projects directly to top-tier industry professionals in a series of rapid one-on-one, speed-dating style meetings, lasting approximately 5 minutes each. These professionals will include major network executives, studio development teams, talent agents, production companies, and other key decision-makers from across the global entertainment landscape.
Whether you have an idea for a hit comedy series or a boundary-pushing unscripted format, this is your moment to get your ideas in front of the people who can help bring them to life.
If you’ve got a great idea and the passion to pitch it—this is the stage (or table!).
Fast. Focused. Funny. Submit now for a chance to pitch at Just For Laughs!
Awards & Prizes
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Selected pitchers will be invited to the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival to participate in a SPEED PITCHING session as part of ComedyPRO, which will take place Thursday, July 23 & Friday, July 24.
You will be provided a complimentary ComedyPRO Pass to take advantage of the festival offerings, including exclusive networking events.
If selected, attendance is MANDATORY in order to participate.
NOTE : A travel stipend will NOT be provided.
You will be provided a complimentary ComedyPRO Pass to take advantage of the festival offerings, including exclusive networking events.
If selected, attendance is MANDATORY in order to participate.
NOTE : A travel stipend will NOT be provided.
This program is open to a SELECT number of participants. Submission criteria are as follows:
- Open to creatives worldwide!
- All submissions must be in English.
- Submissions MUST be made through FilmFreeway to qualify.
- The project can be scripted or unscripted, but it must be comedic.
- Projects with existing attachments are permitted to enter (if so, please state who).
- Ideally, these projects have not been pitched to networks before.
As part of the application, participants must provide a logline and a 2-page pitch deck, which must include:
- If Scripted:
- Logline including title, protagonist, action, antagonist, goal, stakes.
- Description of show including: Intended market (US, CAN, UK, other), logline, tagline, story, structure, characters, world, plot, tone, and answers to "Why you? Why this? Why now?"
- If Unscripted:
- Logline including title, tone, genre, cast, setting, core action, goal, unique twist.
- Description of show including: Intended market (US, CAN, UK, other), title, tone, genre, cast, setting, format, structure, “what makes this successful?”
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Please read these terms & conditions thoroughly
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The submitter agrees to indemnify and hold JFL harmless from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses (including attorney's fees and court costs) arising from any issues related to copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, or the loss or damage of the submitted project.
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JUST FOR LAUGHS SHORTS, presented by Just For Laughs in partnership with Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue, spotlights the boldest, sharpest, and most original comedic voices from around the world. This year’s program will feature a curated mix of live-action and animated shorts, creating space to celebrate comedy in all its forms.
We’re looking for scripted, unscripted, and animated work that takes big swings, whether it’s a laugh-out-loud standalone or a short bursting with long-form potential. Submissions should feel intentional and cohesive, with a clear narrative, conceptual, or thematic throughline.
Submit your film and show us what the future of comedy looks like!
We’re looking for scripted, unscripted, and animated work that takes big swings, whether it’s a laugh-out-loud standalone or a short bursting with long-form potential. Submissions should feel intentional and cohesive, with a clear narrative, conceptual, or thematic throughline.
Submit your film and show us what the future of comedy looks like!
Criteria for Submissions:
- Open to artists worldwide! (All submissions must be in English)
- Submissions must be made through FilmFreeway to qualify.
- Eligible content must have been completed in 2025 or 2026.
- Premieres (World, North American, or Canadian) are encouraged but not required.
- Running time should be between 3 and 12 minutes (including credits).
- Content may have been previously self-published online (e.g., on personal or creator-owned social channels or websites). However, submissions must not have been released via television, streaming platforms, theatrical distribution, or third-party curatorial or distribution partners in Canada prior to the festival’s closing date (festival screenings are okay).
- Submissions screened at other festivals are allowed. Works may be publicly available online if they were self-published by the creator; private YouTube or Vimeo links are also acceptable.
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By submitting a film to JFL, the submitter grants the Festival the right to use an excerpt from the film for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film confirms they are authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts all requirements and regulations outlined. The submitter agrees to indemnify and hold JFL harmless from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses (including attorney's fees and court costs) arising from any issues related to copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, or the loss or damage of the submitted screening video.
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Returning for the 2026 Just For Laughs Montreal Festival, JFL PILOTS, presented by Just For Laughs in partnership with Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue, will spotlight 3 of the most original and hilarious independent half-hour pilots from around the world.
We’re looking for bold, laugh-out-loud comedies, whether they’re sharp satires, clever mockumentaries, heartfelt rom-coms, or daringly unique concepts designed to captivate audiences. Each pilot, live-action or animated, scripted or unscripted, must be independently produced and undistributed as a multi-episode series. The pilot must display clear series potential; standalone short films will not be considered
We’re looking for bold, laugh-out-loud comedies, whether they’re sharp satires, clever mockumentaries, heartfelt rom-coms, or daringly unique concepts designed to captivate audiences. Each pilot, live-action or animated, scripted or unscripted, must be independently produced and undistributed as a multi-episode series. The pilot must display clear series potential; standalone short films will not be considered
Criteria for Submissions:
Sous-titre
Returning for the 2026 Just For Laughs Montreal Festival, JFL PILOTS, presented by Just For Laughs in partnership with Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue, will spotlight 3 of the most original and hilarious independent half-hour pilots from around the world.
We’re looking for bold, laugh-out-loud comedies, whether they’re sharp satires, clever mockumentaries, heartfelt rom-coms, or daringly unique concepts designed to captivate audiences. Each pilot, live-action or animated, scripted or unscripted, must be independently produced and undistributed as a multi-episode series. The pilot must display clear series potential; standalone short films will not be considered.
We’re looking for bold, laugh-out-loud comedies, whether they’re sharp satires, clever mockumentaries, heartfelt rom-coms, or daringly unique concepts designed to captivate audiences. Each pilot, live-action or animated, scripted or unscripted, must be independently produced and undistributed as a multi-episode series. The pilot must display clear series potential; standalone short films will not be considered.
- Open to artists worldwide! (All submissions must be in English.)
- Submissions must be made through FilmFreeway to qualify.
- Eligible content must have been completed in 2025 or 2026.
- Premieres (World, North American, or Canadian) are encouraged but not required.
- Running time must be between 15 and 30 minutes (including credits).
- Content may have been previously self-published online (e.g., on personal or creator-owned social channels or websites). However, submissions must not have been released via television, streaming platforms, theatrical distribution, or third-party curatorial or distribution partners in Canada prior to the festival’s closing date (festival screenings are okay).
- Submissions screened at other festivals are allowed. Works may be publicly available online if they were self-published by the creator; private YouTube or Vimeo links are also acceptable.
Titre
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By submitting a film to JFL, the submitter grants the Festival the right to use an excerpt from the film for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film confirms they are authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts all requirements and regulations outlined. The submitter agrees to indemnify and hold JFL harmless from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, or expenses (including attorney's fees and court costs) arising from any issues related to copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, or the loss or damage of the submitted screening video.