Festival Data:

• Established: 2009
• Genre: Comedy - Romance (click to see)
• Attendance: 4000
• Media Attendance: 50
• Accredited Industry Attendance: 300
• Total Number of Films Screened: 70
• # of Shorts Screened: 70

• Competitive
• Has Panels
• Workshops

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

Based in Los Angeles, an oasis for comedy filmmakers, the L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition, the largest comedy film festival in the U.S., is a four-day, non-stop celebration of comedic short films with screenings, industry panels and a red-carpet awards event. Co-founded by Boston Legal’s Gary Anthony Williams, L.A. Comedy Shorts has attracted heavyweights from the world of comedy, including Will Ferrell and Judd Apatow’s ‘FunnyOrDie’ - a major festival sponsor.

Adam Carolla hosted the star-studded 2009 awards presentations where actor/director Bobcat Goldthwait was honored with the first annual ‘Commie’ comedy achievement award. Star Wars’ Mark Hamill presented the award for the best comedy screenplay. Festival attendees were treated to hilarious short films and informative discussion panels that included SNL alum Laraine Newman, Malcolm in the Middle creator Linwood Boomer, and Boondocks’ creator Aaron McGruder. Filmmakers and screenwriters entering L.A. Comedy Shorts 2009 competed for over $40,000 in cash and prizes and The Funny Or Die Best-Of-Fest Award received a featured position on the FunnyorDie.com homepage.

LACSFF Artistic Director Gary Anthony Williams has said.  “If you can make a movie that’s original and entertaining, with a surprising plot and great characters and make it hilarious, too… well, that deserves an award.” LACSFF co-founders, Festival Director Jeannie Roshar and Festival Producer Ryan Higman, have announced 2010 awards recipients will be selected in the following categories:
Short Films:
     *Best-of-Fest Grand Prize Short
     *Best Comedy Short
     *Best Comedy Animated Short
     *Best Comedy Shortie-Short (under 5 minutes)
     *L.A. Shorts Audience Award
Scripts:
     *Best Comedy Feature
     *Best Comedy Short
     *Best Half-Hour Comedy TV Pilot
At the L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition all filmmakers enjoy great exposure from the heavy industry presence at the festival.  In 2009, the winning scripts and films were requested or reviewed by:
    * The Gersh Agency
    * Mosaic Media Group
    * Benderspink
    * ICM
    * UTA
    * Principato-Young Entertainment
    * Generate
    * Underground Films
    * The Gold Company
    * 3 Arts Entertainment
    * Larger Than Life
    * Stars Road Entertainment
      ...and many others!
L.A. is known as a place where ‘funny’ can be a career. Now that the Los Angeles Comedy Shorts Film Festival has established the funny career achievement 'Commie' Award, we wonder, what’s next?

Film Submissions:

• Submission formats: DVD
• Call for Entry: http:/ / www.lacomedyshorts.com/ lacs2012/ shorts/ submit.htm