Laughing matters

If laughter is the best medicine, then the Just For Laughs Festival can probably add years to your life. And really, who doesn’t enjoy a big, old-fashioned belly laugh? Now in its 26th edition, Just For Laughs is one of brightest stars on Montréal sizzling summer festival scene. No wonder the New York Times called it “the Cannes of comedy”: for ten side-splitting days, from July 10 to 20, Montréal is all smiles ‘n’ chuckles as the city rolls out the red carpet for everything decidedly drôle. The festival has three components: a film festival, free outdoor activities and, of course, the ever-popular gala events with comedy superstars and up-and-comers from around the globe.

Rolling in the aisles
Just For Laughs launched its film event in 1997 as a series of short film screenings called Eat My Shorts! (you gotta love that name). Over the years, feature film screenings were added and the film fest is now going by the eponymous Just For Laughs Film Festival. Hollywood is heading north for the occasion, with such comedy heavyweights as writer-director-producer Judd Apatow (Superbad, Knocked Up, 40-Year-Old Virgin), actor-writer Seth Rogen (Superbad, Knocked Up), Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) and hometown boys Jason Reitman (Juno), Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder, Million Dollar Baby) and Stéphane Rousseau (Oscar-winning Les Invasions barbares). On July 19, all aboard the “Pineapple Express” for a special advance screening of Apatow Productions’ latest comedic offering, followed by a Q&A with producer Judd Apatow and the film’s star and co-writer, Seth Rogen. And, not forgetting that all this funny business is, well, a business, the organizers are launching the first-ever Just For Laughs industry conference this year, featuring an unbridled and uncensored “In Conversation” event with father-and-son feature film-making duo and comedic giants, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman. Jason Reitman will also present a Master Class on filmmaking on July 18.

Take it outside
What separates Just For Laughs from other comedy events around the world are the free, open-air activities for the whole family. Downtown streets are closed to automobile traffic so festivalgoers can stroll from site to site in complete safety. No other festival takes comedy to the streets like this, with everything from a Twins Parade (yes, you ARE seeing double) to live music and international circus performers. The Urban Arts program has giant ants, live-sized giraffes and flamenco-dancing antelopes running amok on St-Denis Street. Watch out for the God of Wind and his giant white birds and ostrich (really, what God of Wind would leave home without his giant ostrich?) walking through the crowds, enveloping bystanders in his huge cape. Oh, and if you find yourself swept up in an incredibly silly situation (“Hey, is that a ten-dollar bill? Strange; it seems to be glued to the…doh!”), think roving gangs of gagsters à la Candid Camera. And don’t forget Le Grand Charivarir, a Mardi Gras-inspired carnival—Montrealers are setting up crews to dazzle onlookers in a one-of-a-kind parade that hits the streets on the evening of July 19.

Did you hear the one about…?
One of the festivals biggest draws is the incredible line-up of new talent and mega-stars who take to Montréal stages each year for the great galas and indoor shows. This year, you can take in the queen of one-liners, Joan Rivers (”I knew I was unwanted when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and radio”), superstar Kathy Griffin (“Okay, here’s the thing…”) and Late Late Show host, Craig Ferguson, not to mention Jeremy Piven, Jimmy Fallon, Jeremy Hotz and the All-Star Gala featuring performances by Ron White, Paula Poundstone, Larry Miller, Danny Bhoy, Ron James and more! If you’re travelling without the young’uns you might want to check out the Nasty Show, the French Comedy Bastards or Britcom. JFL is also your chance to see rising stars on the comedy scene at shows like the Homegrown Comics Competition or New Faces of Comedy. Lots of future big names get their start right here. Fun fact: Craig Ferguson debuted on the North American comedy scene in the 1980s at Just For Laughs using the stage name “Bing Hitler”—yeah, not too hard to understand why he went back to using his real name.

Just For Laughs Festival
See the JFL Web site for the full program of activities or to purchase tickets:
http://www.hahaha.com

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