EXCLUSIVE: Following the conclusion of its 2025 flagship festival in Montréal, Just For Laughs has announced the winners of its inaugural Shorts & Pilots Program, recognizing emerging comedic talent and original storytelling across short and pilot formats.
The Grand Jury Prize for Shorts was awarded to Better People, directed by Rory Kramer and written by Jessica Uhler, with the Audience Award going to This Blows, written by Molly Clark and directed by Talia Smith.
In the Pilots category, the Grand Jury Prize went to Bulldozer, written by and starring Joanna Leeds, and directed by Andrew Leeds. The Audience Award was given to The Take, written by Joanna Bradley and Glenn Boozan.
In a statement to Deadline, JFL President & CEO Sylvain Parent‑Bédard said, “We’re excited to spotlight these rising voices and play a part in launching what we are sure to be amazing careers. This is only the beginning.”
Commented Spencer Griffin, Executive Producer and Head of Development & Creative Strategy, “Just For Laughs has always been about discovery, development, and delivery, and the Shorts & Pilots Program is the newest extension of that mission. It’s remarkable what creators are making independently, and we’re thrilled to showcase that work and collaborate with such a sharp, original group of artists.”
JFL’s selected creators will receive development opportunities with Just For Laughs, with Grand Jury Prize winners also entering a development partnership with Will Arnett’s Electric Avenue. Judges for both programs were selected for their industry expertise, their connection to Just For Laughs, and their ongoing commitment to championing emerging comedic voices. The Pilots Program judges included Kate Chamuris, Anthony Q. Farrell, Phil Augusta Jackson, and Rebecca Kohler. The Shorts Program was judged by Leah Bleich, Kimberly Gatewood, Andrew Kasch, Rakhee Morzaria, Nicole Stamp, and Adam Tsekhman. Additionally, members of the JFL creative development and festival programming teams were involved in the selection process.
Submissions for the 2026 program open early next year. Learn more about this year’s winning projects and their creators below.
SHORTS CATEGORY
Grand Jury Prize
Winner: Better People
Logline: On an already rough day, a woman finds herself trapped in an endless loop of unfortunate events at a drive-through coffee shop.
Prize: A development partnership with Just For Laughs and Electric Avenue, plus two industry passes to the 2026 Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival.
Audience Award
Winner: This Blows
Logline: An 11-year-old’s misunderstanding of the term “blow job” sends her babysitter scrambling to avert disaster at a kid’s birthday party.
Prize: Two industry passes to the 2026 Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival.
PILOTS CATEGORY
Grand Jury Prize
Winner: Bulldozer
Logline: After discovering her boyfriend’s infidelity with sex workers, Jo’s impulsive plea for attention takes a dark turn—with consequences she never expected.
Prize: A development partnership with Just For Laughs and Electric Avenue, plus two industry passes to the 2026 Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival.
Audience Award
Winner: The Take
Logline: As a legacy daytime talk show teeters on the edge of cancellation, beleaguered producer Amy Porter fights to keep both the show—and her career—afloat.
Prize: Two industry passes to the 2026 Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival.
About the Winners
Better People: Rory Kramer is a Chilean-American, Emmy-winning writer and director whose recent work includes campaigns for major brands and recognized narrative projects at top festivals.
This Blows: Molly Clark is a New York-based LGBTQ+ comedic writer and actor whose feature film was recently optioned by a prominent production company.
Bulldozer: Joanna Leeds is a Harvard graduate with acting credits on notable TV shows, while Andrew Leeds has a rich background in both acting and writing for major networks.
The Take: Glenn Boozan and Joanna Bradley are established writers in the industry with impressive backgrounds in television comedy.
Shorts Participants Include:
Bullies in the Sky — Taylor Brown
Denise Sells Houses — Will Sonheim, Claire McFadden
Happy Mart — Bill Posely, Bente Engelstoft
Mahogany Drive — Jerah Milligan, Jonathon Braylock
Slop King — Andy Assaf, Peter Schnobb
Something Bad That Happened in My Past — Mike Mildon, Clare McConnell
The Debut — Jared Bronen, Alex Guaglianone
The Pact — Brandon Calder, Ryan George, Samuel Brisson
The Protagonist Gene — Kyle Leland Cullerton
Pilots Participants Include:
Dying Seconds — Brendan Halloran, Davin Lengyel, Samantha Wan
Teen Mary — Ali Rosenthal
