Just For Laughs ComedyPRO 2017 to Put the Funny Front and Centre

By: Jul. 11, 2017
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Just For Laughs ComedyPRO, the leading event of the comedy industry, has expanded its programming for 2017 with the addition of more high profile cast and industry panels that put the business of funny front and centre. Now in its tenth year, Just For Laughs ComedyPRO is the de facto event for the industry, bringing together top talent and executives for four days of networking and deal-making.

Participants at this year's event include a who's who of the business - from content creators to content distributors. ComedyPRO will play host to top companies such as: Netflix, HBO, CBS, FOX, CNN, Bell Media, CBC, Comedy Central, Showtime, truTV, Hulu, FX Networks, TBS, SiriusXM, Funny or Die, Studio71, Some Spider Studios, Comedy Dynamics, Project 10 Productions Inc., and Thruline Entertainment.

"People in the comedy industry are hungry for opportunities to learn and make connections," says Paul Ronca, Director of Industry & Special Events Programming at Just For Laughs, "which is why we have strengthened this year's programming to offer more high profiles panels and networking events from the brands and people who truly make comedy happen."

A look at who will be participating:

Aaron Spina (Director, Special Events & Programming, HBO), Ada Chiaghana (Manager of Development, Original Programming, HBO), Andrew Barnsley (President/Executive Producer, Project 10 Productions Inc.), Andrew Santino (Actor, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Ari Graynor (Actress, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Bernard Derriman (Supervising Director, Bob's Burgers), Bill Lundy (Production Executive, Comedy, Bell Media), Bob Daily (Executive Producer, CBS' Superior Donuts), Brian Volk-Weiss (President/Founder, Comedy Dynamics), Brittany Furlan (Comedian/Creator), Colin Davis (Senior Director, Original Programming, TBS), Danny McBride (Actor/Writer/Producer/Director/Creator, HBO's Vice Principals), Dave Chernin (Creator/Writer/Executive Producer, FOX's The Mick), David Gordon Green (Executive Producer/Director, HBO's Vice Principals), Deb Savo (Executive Producer, Original Programming and Development, truTV), Edi Patterson (Actress, HBO's Vice Principals), Erik Griffin (Actor, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Fab Filippo (Actor/Screenwriter/Playwright/Director), Garrett Donovan (Executive Producer, CBS' Superior Donuts), Georgia King (Actress, HBO's Vice Principals), Harjit Bhandal (YouTwoTV, Comedy Creator, Much Digital Studios), Jae Richards (4YallEntertainment, Comedy Creator, Much Digital Studios), Jake Lacy (Actor, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Jay Baruchel (Actor/Writer/Director), Jaz Saini (YouTwoTV, Comedy Creator, Much Digital Studios).

Jeremy Garelick (Showrunner, Director), Jermaine Fowler (Actor and Executive Producer, CBS' Superior Donuts), Jim Carrey (Executive Producer, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Jody Hill (Writer/Executive Producer/Director/Creator, HBO's Vice Principals), Joe Hodorowicz (Talent Manager, Studio71), John Chernin (Creator/Writer/Executive Producer, FOX's The Mick), Jonas Larsen (Executive Vice President of Talent & Development, West Coast, Comedy Central), Jonathan Gabay (Vice President, Comedy Development, FOX), Josh Poole (Vice President of Development, Above Average), Judd Hirsch (Actor, CBS' Superior Donuts), Jus Reign (Comedy Creator, Much Digital Studios), Kaitlin Olson (Actress/Co-Executive Producer, FOX's The Mick), Kate Lambert (Senior Vice President, Series Development and Animation, FX Networks), Katey Sagal (Actress, CBS' Superior Donuts), Kimberly Hébert Gregory (Actress, HBO's Vice Principals), Kliph Nesteroff (Author, Moderator, CNN's The History of Comedy), Kristen Schwarz (Manager, Comedy Programming & Development, FOX), Laura Schwartz (Manager of Development, New Form Digital).

Mark Herzog (Executive Producer, CNN's The History of Comedy), Matt Klinman (Co-Founder of the Pitch app), Matt Santoro (Vlogger/Creator), Melissa Leo (Actress, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Michael Angarano (Actor, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Michelle Daly (Senior Director of Comedy Content,CBC), Mike Clattenburg (Writer/Director/Executive Producer), Mike Farah (CEO, Funny or Die), Mike McShane (Director of Business and Partnerships, Bell Media), Mike Veerman (Host, The Mike on Much Podcast), Monika Zielinska (Senior Vice President, Original Programming & Development, West Coast, Comedy Central), Neil Goldman (Executive Producer, CBS' Superior Donuts), Peter Putka (Executive Producer, Development & Production, Some Spider Studios), Rich Rinaldi (Writer/Executive Producer, Bob's Burgers), RJ Cyler (Actor, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here), Rob Gati (Original Programming Executive, Hulu), Rohit Sang (Executive Producer, Programming and Development, truTV), Sandra Payne (Vice Chairman, IAWTV), Sarah Babineau (Executive Vice President, Talent & Development, East Coast, Comedy Central), Sarah Fowlie (Director of Original Programming, Bell Media), Simmy Kustanowitz (Executive Producer, Original Programming and Development, truTV), Spencer Griffin (Senior Vice President/Executive Producer, Big Breakfast).

Terence Gray (Founder and Executive Director, NYTVF), Todd Milliner (Executive Producer, CNN's The History of Comedy), Trevor Noah (Host, Comedian, Author), Trey Richards (4YallEntertainment, Comedy Creator, Much Digital Studios), W. Kamau Bell (Author/Comedian, Moderator, CNN's The History of Comedy), Walton Goggins (Actor, HBO's Vice Principals), Zach Feldberg (Executive in Charge of Production, Digital Originals, CBC), Zoe Friedman (Senior Vice President of Original Programming & Development, Blue Ribbon Content).

Just For Laughs ComedyPRO runs from July 26 - 29, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Montreal. The event features a deep and diverse range of programming from film series, staged readings, pitch programs and keynotes to an awards show, podcasts, networking events and cocktails. In addition to its high profile cast and industry panels (which this year include CNN's The History of Comedy, Showtime's I'm Dying Up Here, FOX's The Mick, CBS' Superior Donuts and HBO's Vice Principals) ComedyPRO plays host to Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" showcase, the prestigious 'New Faces' series and the 'Homegrown Comic Competition'.

About the Just For Laughs Group: Founded in 1983, the Just For Laughs Group has had but one goal in its 30-plus years of operation: make people happy. To achieve this goal, the Just For Laughs Group has focused on four major products: festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney; television production including Gags seen in over 130 countries and on over 75 airlines and stand-up specials; live shows, such as Canadian tour dates for Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K., Jim Gaffigan and the Just For Laughs Comedy Tour; and talent management. The Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival is the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event welcoming on average 1.35 million visitors to Montreal each summer and generating approximately $80 million for the city's economy. The Group has offices in Montreal, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, London and are all connected to each other via the Internet.

 

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