Montreal's Just For Laughs cancelled

Festival admits major financial difficulties

One of the world’s biggest comedy festivals has been cancelled after hitting major financial difficulties.

Montreal’s Just For Laughs has filed for protection from its creditors under Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

The company behind the event – which also launched a London festival at The O2 last year – admitted it was in ‘a very difficult financial situation given the significant changes in our business landscape in recent years’.

A statement said: ‘Unfortunately, the 2024 edition of the Just for Laughs Festival will not take place, at least not at the same time and in the same form as it customarily has.’

It cited ‘difficult times’ facing media and festival industries, the knock-on effect from the Covid pandemic and inflationary pressures now driving up costs.

The process the company is undergoing gives a pause from being forced into insolvency while it can seek investors or strategic purchasers for all or part of its business.

The company, Groupe Juste Pour Rire Inc, said: ‘Once the restructuring is completed, we hope that the festival will take place in 2025. ‘

It has also run festivals in Toronto, Vancouver and sells footage of its shows to broadcasters globally. It also makes a silent hidden camera comedy series, Just for Laughs Gags.

Just for Laughs was formed in 1983 as a two-day French-language event with English programming added in 1985.

The Montreal event now typically runs for two weeks in July, with much of the American comedy industry descending for the final weekend, which has a number of events aimed at executives, agents and those trying to break into the business.

In 2017, festival president and founder Gilbert Rozon resigned from his position following allegations of sexual misconduct.

It was then acquired by a partnership between US-based talent agency ICM Partners and Canadian comedian Howie Mandel, with local firms Bell Media and Groupe CH then buying into the company so it remained majority Canadian-owned and so eligible for government tax credits.

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Published: 5 Mar 2024