Once one of the comedy business’ most influential brands, Just for Laughs last year faced a stunning downfall. After four decades as a top industry kingmaker — a place where reps and bookers discovered the next big thing, and a short set could change your life — the legendary festival filed for bankruptcy protection in 2024, its future uncertain amid tough economic conditions.
The warning signs had been building: a leadership scandal, pandemic-era shutdowns, and an evolving comedy economy where the algorithm dictated who broke through as much as any industry gatekeeper. As comics went viral on TikTok and built followings on YouTube, the question emerged: did JFL still matter?
And yet, the legacy is undeniable. Founded in 1982 as a two-day francophone event, JFL has exploded in the years since into a marquee name — with Montreal as the flagship festival and numerous other satellite events taking place over the course of the year. Its New Faces program has been a career-making platform for dozens of now-household names, from Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer to Jimmy Fallon and Ramy Youssef.
Even in the last decade, with all the challenges JFL has faced, the fest has kept its finger on the pulse of comedy’s next wave, spotlighting future stars like Hacks‘ Hannah Einbinder, Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson, and Shane Gillis. And now, after a year of restructuring, there are signs of renewal.
After acquiring the brand, Sylvain Parent-Bédard’s Quebec-based ComediHa is relaunching JFL Montreal for the first time in two years, starting July 16 — somewhat leaner, refocused, and with a mix of new and preexisting leadership at the helm.
Parent-Bédard calls this year’s fest a mere “first step” in the direction of his full vision, while underscoring that over 100,000 tickets have already been sold, meaning that the festival officially “won’t lose money this year.”
Today on the Comedy Means Business podcast, we reflect on the rise, fall, and return of Just for Laughs — joined by the team now steering it into the future: President & CEO Parent-Bédard, executive producer, head of development and creative strategy Spencer Griffin, and head of programming Nick Brazao.
View a video clip from the conversation above and check out the full audio-only podcast below.