After Just for Laughs’ bankruptcy, we should ask Canadian comedians what they need to succeed
It’s still not clear how Juste Pour Rire / Just for Laughs (JPR/JFL) went from one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world to bankruptcy.
- It’s still not clear how Juste Pour Rire / Just for Laughs (JPR/JFL) went from one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world to bankruptcy.
- On April 12, La Presse reported the festival lost $800,000 in an email phishing scheme in 2023.
- The company also applied for protection from creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
From burst to bust
JPR was founded by businessman Gilbert Rozon in 1983 as a two-day French-language comedy event in Montréal. In 1985, Rozon was joined by promoter Andrew Nulman who brought the event to anglophone audiences and co-founded the company’s bilingual iteration. JPR/JFL is a behemoth in Canadian comedy and tourism. The flagship festival still took place in Montréal but expanded nationally and globally.
Conflicts around sexual assault, harassment
- In recent years, JFL has contended with a series of high-profile conflicts.
- At the height of #MeToo in 2017, Rozon stepped down as president after being named in numerous sexual assault allegations.
- This also brought back to light Rozon’s previous 1998 sexual assault charge that he plead guilty to.
- : Sexual misconduct and the pursuit of justice
Mausner said Rozon’s stepping down was a “a surface-level solution for a systemic problem” and called the festival an “accessory to sexual assaults.” Following the earlier assault allegations, the organization implemented an
anti-harassment policy and brought in new investment partners.
Royalties issues, pandemic challenges
- The channel, which once played exclusively Canadian content, would now primarily feature classic JPR/JFL recordings, meaning a substantial reduction in royalties for Canadian comedians.
- Intense public pushback from comedians led JPR/JFL to walk back their proposal and commit to playing 100 per cent Canadian content.
- The pandemic hit live festivals hard, but JPR/JFL did receive significant monetary assistance from government sources.
Blockbuster festivals, broke comedians
- Canadian comedians often think of performing at JPR/JFL as a massive career goal.
- But for years, JPR/JFL has been taken to task for their prioritization of American comedians.
- Even if JPR/JFL survives restructuring, comic Sam Sferrazza says this likely will mean “bringing in more bankable American talent paid for by Canadian taxpayers and artistic institutions.” Canadian funding agencies tend to favour blockbuster events like JPR/JFL but in the world of art grants, stand-up comedians are at a disadvantage.
Boosting international exposure
- But what if we created an environment where they not only wanted to stay but could stay.
- One option is boosting Canada’s comedic digital content internationally.
Funding for local comedians and festivals
- Another option is putting more funding directly into the pockets of individual Canadian comedians, producers, and (smaller) festivals, strengthening the comedy industry nationwide.
- We need to be asking comedians what they need to succeed and recognizing their work as both artists and contributors to Canadian culture.
Madison Trusolino has received funding for her research from SSHRC, OGS and the Jackman Humanities Institute.