Editing Just for Laughs (section)

==History==
[[Image:Festival Juste pour rire de Montréal, Québec.jpg|thumb|left|Saint-Denis Theatre, the theatre where the festival used to film until 2010]]
[[File:Just4Laughs StDenisTheatre stage Montreal retouched.jpg|thumb|left|Inside Saint-Denis Theatre, 2005 Just for Laughs festival]]
[[Image:Improv all stars Vacation2003 008.jpg|thumb|Improv All Stars stage,<br>Just for Laughs festival 2003]]
[[Image:Théâtre St-Denis, salle 1.jpg|thumb|left|Principal shooting set, as of 2014]]
[[Image:Place des Arts 15.jpg|thumb|Place des Arts, this is where the festival previously filmed]]
Just for Laughs was formed in 1982 as a two-day French-language event. In 1985, [[Andy Nulman]] joined the festival's staff and introduced English-language events as well; under Nulman's stewardship, the festival increased to a full month, with French-speaking performers during the first half, and English speakers in the second half.{{cn|date=June 2024}} International and non-verbal acts (acrobats, pantomimes, etc.) are scattered throughout the program.

In 1999, Nulman left the festival's full-time employ; however, he directed its major Gala Shows at the [[Théâtre Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis Theatre]] every July, and remained on the board of directors of the festival's parent company. After an 11-year absence, Nulman returned to Just for Laughs in July 2010 as president of Festivals and Television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsb.com/speakers/view/andy-nulman|title=Andy Nulman » Speaker Profile » National Speakers Bureau|website=Nsb.com|access-date=June 5, 2013|archive-date=August 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803032615/http://nsb.com/speakers/view/andy-nulman|url-status=live}}</ref>

Each day, performers, "New [[Vaudevillians]]" and other acts both vocal and visual perform throughout the city, particularly in the "[[Quartier Latin, Montreal|Latin Quarter]]"{{cn|date=June 2024}}—an area known for its theatres, cafés and boutique shopping. In the evenings, the nightclubs and live venue theatres offer special programs supporting the performers.

Although Just for Laughs attracts spectators from around the world, many of those in the audience are talent scouts, booking agents, producers, and managers from the entertainment industry. Performing at the festival is one of the biggest opportunities for undiscovered talent to showcase their act in front of industry professionals.

The Just for Laughs festival also has the Comedia comedy [[film festival]] component.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Brendan |date=2004-06-30 |title='Kumar,' 'Jeremy' set for Comedia |url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/kumar-jeremy-set-for-comedia-1117907206/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Variety |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331014107/https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/kumar-jeremy-set-for-comedia-1117907206/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Awards are given for feature and short films. In 2005, Comedia screened 125 [[short films]] from around the world as well as several feature-length films.

In February 1994, the festival sponsored a splinter project in [[Hollywood, Florida]]. That coastal area is a favourite winter destination for [[Quebec]]ers who head [[Snowbird (person)|south to vacation]] in the warmer weather. The event, Juste pour rire—en vacances (Just for Laughs—On Vacation), was held in the Young Circle Park, an outdoor venue with an urban park setting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COMEDY FESTIVAL FOLLOWS CANADIANS TO HOLLYWOOD |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-02-25-9402230728-story.html |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Sun Sentinel |date=25 February 1994 |archive-date=2024-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806051325/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1994/02/25/comedy-festival-follows-canadians-to-hollywood/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2007, Just for Laughs celebrated its 25th edition, launching a festival in [[Toronto]], Ontario.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-05-23 |title=Mandel, Ferguson, Lopez top Toronto Laughs fest |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-laughs-idUSN2347916720070523 |access-date=2023-03-14 |archive-date=2023-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314065618/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-laughs-idUSN2347916720070523 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, a U.S. edition of the festival was held in [[Chicago]], sponsored by U.S. cable network [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2009/03/31/tbs-presents-a-very-funny-festival-just-for-laughs-all-star|title=TBS PRESENTS A VERY FUNNY FESTIVAL: JUST FOR LAUGHS -- All-Star Comedy Lineup Unveiled for June's Premiere Event in Chicago|author=Time Warner Inc.|website=Time Warner|access-date=12 May 2017|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035658/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2009/03/31/tbs-presents-a-very-funny-festival-just-for-laughs-all-star|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gapersblock.com/ac/2013/06/06/-photo-courtesy-of-tbs/|title=TBS Just for Laughs: 5th Annual Funny Festival Returns to Chicago|website=gapersblock.com|access-date=12 May 2017|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506103958/http://gapersblock.com/ac/2013/06/06/-photo-courtesy-of-tbs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 24, 2010, it was announced that they have to move the Just for Laughs galas to [[Place des Arts]] and that the 2011 festival in the Saint-Denis Theatre would be recycled due to budget cuts.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/just-for-laughs-juste-pour-rire-galas-move-to-place-des-arts | title= Just for Laughs / Juste pour rire galas move to Place des arts | work= [[Montreal Gazette]] | first= Bill | last= Brownstein | date= November 24, 2010 | access-date= November 24, 2010 | archive-date= August 6, 2024 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240806051326/https://montrealgazette.com/ | url-status= dead }}</ref>

In July 2016, Just for Laughs [[London]] was held at [[Russell Square]].<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.ikonlondonmagazine.com/review-just-for-laughs-festival-london/ | title= Review: Just For Laughs Festival London | publisher= Ikon London Magazine | first= Tamara | last= Orlova-Alvarez | date= 3 July 2016 | access-date= 23 February 2018 | archive-date= 7 March 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180307015149/http://www.ikonlondonmagazine.com/review-just-for-laughs-festival-london/ | url-status= live }}</ref>

On April 1, 2019, the Just for Laughs name went fully stylized to '''''J''ust for laughs''', and on 2021 as '''JUST F''O''R LAUGHS'''. On April 3, 2020, it was announced that the 2020 edition of Just for Laughs would be postponed until the fall due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal|COVID-19 pandemic]]. It was scheduled to run from September 29 to October 11, 2020, however, on July 21, 2020, organizers reversed their decision and cancelled the event. To fill the gap, they choose for a series of virtual performances that will run online (via the Internet only), for two days, on October 9 and 10, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Just for Laughs postpones, JazzFest, FrancoFolies, Velo Quebec cancel summer 2020 festivals|url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/just-for-laughs-postpones-jazzfest-francofolies-velo-quebec-cancel-summer-2020-festivals-1.4881285|last=Luft|first=Amy|date=2020-04-03|website=CTV News Montreal|language=en|access-date=2020-05-02|archive-date=2021-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305111158/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/just-for-laughs-postpones-jazzfest-francofolies-velo-quebec-cancel-summer-2020-festivals-1.4881285|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/just-for-laughs-and-juste-pour-rire-festivals-to-be-held-online-in-the-fall-1.5032663|title=Just for Laughs and Juste pour rire festivals to be held online in the fall|first=Katelyn|last=Thomas|date=July 21, 2020|website=Montreal|access-date=July 22, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212054519/https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/just-for-laughs-and-juste-pour-rire-festivals-to-be-held-online-in-the-fall-1.5032663|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sale to ICM Partners, Bell and the Molson family ===
On October 18, 2017, festival president and founder Gilbert Rozon resigned from his position following allegations of sexual misconduct.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gilbert-rozon-steps-down-1.4361550|title=Just For Laughs president steps down after misconduct allegations surface on social media|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-03-21|language=en|archive-date=2018-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322012820/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/gilbert-rozon-steps-down-1.4361550|url-status=live}}</ref> Rozon later announced that he would sell the festival. As per a partnership with the conglomerate, [[Quebecor]] was given [[right of first refusal]] to counter competing offers. The company, however, declined. On March 21, 2018, it was announced that the entire company would be acquired by a partnership between U.S.-based talent agency [[ICM Partners]] and [[Ontario]] comedian [[Howie Mandel]]. In their announcement of the purchase, it was stated that Just for Laughs would remain based in Montreal (with Mandel considering the event to be a key component of local culture), and that there would be no changes in its management or operations. It was also stated that the partnership was seeking other local partners. Quebecor subsequently announced that it would become a "founding partner" of Le Grand Montréal Comédie Fest—a competing event established by a group of Quebecois comedians as a competitor in the wake of the Rozon scandal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Just For Laughs sold to Howie Mandel and American company|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/just-for-laughs-sale-icm-partners-howie-mandel-2018-1.4585651|website=CBC News|access-date=21 March 2018|date=21 March 2018|archive-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322032751/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/just-for-laughs-sale-icm-partners-howie-mandel-2018-1.4585651|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/howie-mandel-joins-icm-partners-to-buy-just-for-laughs|title='Montreal is the mecca': Howie Mandel joins JFL bid, will keep HQ here|date=2018-03-21|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=2018-03-21|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321170402/http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/howie-mandel-joins-icm-partners-to-buy-just-for-laughs|url-status=live}}</ref> Le Grand Montréal Comédie Fest ran for two years. 

In May 2018, ''[[La Presse (Canadian newspaper)|La Presse]]'' reported that the partnership planned to sell a 51% stake in Just for Laughs to [[Bell Canada]] and [[Evenko]] (an event management company owned by the [[Montreal Canadiens]]' ownership group Groupe CH, in turn owned by the [[Molson family]]), so that the event would remain majority-owned by Canadian interests and remain eligible for government tax credits.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bell-evenko-buy-majority-stake-in-just-for-laughs-report|title=Majority stake in Just for Laughs to be bought by Bell/Evenko: sources|date=2018-05-29|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613084229/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bell-evenko-buy-majority-stake-in-just-for-laughs-report|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 7, 2018, Just For Laughs confirmed that [[Bell Media]] and Groupe CH had acquired stakes in the festival.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bell-media-groupe-ch-among-group-that-has-acquired-just-for-laughs|title=Bell Media, Groupe CH among group that has acquired Just For Laughs|date=2018-06-08|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=2018-06-08|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430200726/https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/bell-media-groupe-ch-among-group-that-has-acquired-just-for-laughs/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2022, Just for Laughs announced a line-up of 62 comedians that will be featured in the Montreal festival that will run from July 13 to 31st. This festival also marks the 40th anniversary of Just for Laughs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/just-for-laughs-montreal-new-faces-of-comedy-2022-list-showcases-1235076683/|title=Just For Laughs Sets Lineup For Annual New Faces Of Comedy Showcases|date=2022-07-25|work=Deadline|access-date=2022-07-25|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-03-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327061718/https://deadline.com/2022/07/just-for-laughs-montreal-new-faces-of-comedy-2022-list-showcases-1235076683/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2024 cancellation and uncertain future ===
[[File:ComediHa! salue Montréal - Scène Vidéotron, July 18, 2024.jpg|thumb|right|The stage set up for ''ComediHa! salue Montréal'', including Just for Laughs-branded events, at the Place des Festivals in 2024]]
On March 5, 2024, it was announced the 2024 edition of the Just for Laughs festival had been canceled as Groupe Juste pour rire tried to avoid bankruptcy.<ref name=":2" /> The organizers attributed lost revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, streaming services, and reduced budgets at networks to the company's collapse. A month later, it was exposed that the company was $22.5 million in debt, with an additional $3.4 million on top of that owed to various creditors. It was also revealed the festival lost $800,000 in an email phishing scheme in 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dal.ca/news/2024/04/19/just-for-laughs-canada-support.html | title=After Just for Laughs' bankruptcy, we should ask Canadian comedians what they need to succeed | access-date=2024-05-14 | archive-date=2024-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514042643/https://www.dal.ca/news/2024/04/19/just-for-laughs-canada-support.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In May, Just for Laughs announced that it was selling some of its assets to ComediHa!, a company which organizes similar comedy festivals in other Quebec cities.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/just-for-laughs-comediha-1.7218819 "Entertainment firm ComediHa! to take over some Just for Laughs assets"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531194237/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/just-for-laughs-comediha-1.7218819 |date=2024-05-31 }}. [[CBC News]], May 29, 2024.</ref> In an interview in July, ComediaHa!'s CEO, Sylvain Parent-Bédard, reported that the company plans to keep the Just For Laughs and Juste Pour Rire brands for the festivals, and use the ComediHa! brand for musicals, theatre, TV, and scripted shows.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-13 |title=Funny business: How the new owner of Just For Laughs plans to revive a comedy powerhouse |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-funny-business-how-the-new-owner-of-just-for-laughs-plans-to-revive-a/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA |archive-date=2024-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715015221/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-funny-business-how-the-new-owner-of-just-for-laughs-plans-to-revive-a/ |url-status=live }}</ref>