Calling all female and non-binary Canadian filmmakers!

Do you need a passionate push to get your comedy stories on screen?

Do you need deadlines and accountability?

Do you love making comedic content?

 Canadian Film Fest and Firecracker Department are partnering to present….

THE COMEDY IGNITER

THE COMEDY IGNITER

〰️

THE COMEDY IGNITER 〰️

WHAT

A comedy film challenge: 1 prompt. 1 month. 1 film.

Start with a one of a kind  prompt from a beloved community comedy artist…Endwith your fully produced short film!

Over one-month, female and non-binary Canadian filmmakers will be challenged to conceive, develop, and produce a comedic short film, with the support of the Canadian Film Fest and Firecracker Department. Preceding and throughout the four-weeks, filmmakers will engage in a series of development, networking, and mentoring activities; shaping their vision, and refining their comedy chops, storytelling, and team-building skills.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

  • Team building opportunities - we start with a meet and greet to find your creative collaborators.

  • Virtual workshops throughout January 2025 with community leaders to support your writing, producing, directing, and team building skills. 

  • Mentorship sessions with notable industry professionals, previous mentors have included Naomi Snieckus (Mr. D, Disney’s Zombies), Wendy Litner (Popularity Papers, How to Buy a Baby), Cazhhmere Downey (Murdoch Mysteries, Shelved), Lauren MacKinlay (MacKinlay Media, Bell Media), Liesl Lafferty (Firecracker Department), and Filmcoop Inc (Less Than Kosher). 

  • Four-week timeline to write, shoot, and deliver your film - it’s accountability at its finest!

  • All completed films will be juried for a chance to participate at an exclusive live-audience showcase event at the Canadian Film Fest. 

  • Whether included in the final showcase or not, you come out of this program with a finished comedic short film to show, and an above-the-line key credit that be a step to your next opportunity.

WHERE

Anyone across Canada can participate! Showcase selections presentation will take place at the Canadian Film Fest in Toronto, from March 24-29, 2025. Screening date to be announced.

WHY

Female and non-binary comedians and filmmakers deserve to have their voices heard and their stories seen. Joining this challenge will give talent of all levels the boost they need to develop their skills in key-above-the-line positions. We want to help you propel your career forward in a community-driven environment, while exploring the incredible art of comedy filmmaking!

AWARDS & PRIZES

  • Complimentary CFF festival passes for up to 3 key participants (valued at $400+), which gives access to 2025 Canadian Film Fest screenings and industry series events. 

  • Festival laurels for showcase selections and chances for in-kind career-building prizes.

  • Screening during the monthly Firecracker Dept Comedy Brunch TBD  plus VIP invitation to the yearly Firecracker Dept Brunch during TIFF.

  • Showcase selected films will participate in a live-audience screening where they will receive juried feedback from industry professionals. *Past jury included Carolyn Taylor (I Have Nothing, Baroness Von Sketch), Vanessa Matsui (How to Fail as a Pop Star, Ghost BFF), Allana Harkin (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Nesting), Winnie Jong (Tokens, Law and Order), Julie Bristow (Catalyst), and Winnie Wong (Wonder PR). 

HOW MUCH  

  • Early bird $200 (sign up between Dec 13 - Dec 24)

  • Regular Deadline $225 (sign up between Dec 25 - Jan 13)

  • Includes CFF Festival Passes for your team (worth $400+, maximum of 3 passes per team). 

2025 PARTICIPANT KEY DATES*

Friday, Jan 10
Event: Igniter Meet & Greet
Looking for a team to join? Meet others who are considering joining the challenge too. We’ll be there to answer your questions and discuss the process. 

Monday, January 23
Submissions Close
Last chance to sign up for the 2025 Canadian Comedy Film Igniter!

Friday, January 17
Workshop: Script Writing Basics / Comedy for Short Form Content
Virtual event

Friday, January 24
Workshop: Producing / Directing on a Four-week Timeline
Virtual event

Friday, January 31
Workshop: Team Building Conflict and Resolution / DEI / PROMPT ANNOUNCEMENT 
Virtual event

Friday, February 14
Event: Mid Challenge Check-In
We are halfway through! Do you have questions? Need to problem-solve? Come and chat to find your answers.
Virtual event

Friday, February 28
Final Deadline for films

Monday, March 14
Official Festival selections for screenings announced

March 24-29, 2025, Canadian Film Fest
The Canadian Film Fest & Firecracker Department Present: The Canadian Comedy Film Igniter Showcase
In-person during the festival
Date and time TBA

*Workshops and dates subject to change on short notice due to unpredictable nature of our industry!

ELIGIBILITY & REGULATIONS

  1. Key Applicants must self-identify as female or non-binary and be 18+. 

  2. Key Applicants must be the writer, director, and/or producer of the project (1 - 3 individuals per team maximum). 

  3. Key Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status. 

  4. The final film must be a maximum of 6 minutes in length, including end credits. 

  5. All films must include elements of specific PROMPTS that will be presented to applicants on January 31, 2025. 

  6. All creativity and principal photography (writing/shotlisting/designing/shooting/editing/post-production/delivery) must take place during the official filming time period, February 1 - February 28th, 2025. The majority of your film must contain footage shot or created within these dates.

  7. The project must fit the comedy genre but is not limited to a genre hybrid so long as the work is intended to be humorous by eliciting laughter from the audience. 

  8. The jury focus of the films will be on story, comedy and vision execution over production quality. Teams are encouraged to be creative with the resources available to them. Any type of video or film camera may be used.

  9. The project can be in any language, however, English subtitles must be provided for dialogue other than English.

  10. Applicants must have the rights to any music and clearance for art used in the film. 

  11. Final films must be uploaded on FilmFreeway in its media formatted requirements. 

  12. CFF/Firecracker Dept reserves the right to disqualify entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant. 

  13. Top films selected for screening will be determined at the jury’s discretion based on the number of submissions.

  14. Canadian Film Fest and Firecracker Department require that you include acknowledgement of the Comedy Igniter’s support by including our company logos in the end credits of the project created. Logos and specifications will be provided to you. 

  15. The protagonist must be female or non-binary (we want to see stories from these perspectives!). 

  16. More questions? Check out this FAQ. 

SIGN UP INFO

  1. Sign up/log in to FilmFreeway and create a new film project.

  2. Label the title COMEDY IGNITER for now (applicants are encouraged to change the title and update synopsis/film info upon delivery). 

  3. Tell us who your key applicants are (writer/director/producer). 

  4. Submit your COMEDY FILM IGNITER project to CFF Industry under categories and Fees.

A CFF representative will determine your eligibility and be in contact regarding next steps and events.


If you have further questions please contact Director of Industry, Jen Pogue, jen@canfilmfest.ca