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The 2010 Montreal International Comedy Festival Gala


History & Facts

?You see, I had this idea: just for a bit of fun, I thought I would put people who want to laugh in the same room with people who want to make others laugh.?
Gilbert Rozon, 1983.

It was Gilbert Rozon?s idea to create the world?s premier comedy festival as a way to spread joy and bring laughter to as many people as possible. He launched his extraordinary concept on July 14, 1983?just to see what it would be like, just to give it a try, just to have fun... and, most of all, just for laughs. Over four days, 16 artists performed 35 shows in four theatres to audiences totalling around 5,000 people.

Now, 27 years later, close to 2,000 artists and over two million Festival-goers take part in the event, which is broadcast to millions of loyal viewers worldwide. But the true success of the Montreal Festival lies in the festive spirit that it has sowed among the general public and the way it has reinvented the very idea of comedy, year after year... and is still doing so!

Today, the Group also produces Festivals in Toronto, Chicago and Paris.

In addition to the Festivals, the Just For Laughs Group manages the careers of some 50 artists, produces shows, organizes tours and presents an average of 15 productions per year in both England and France and 20 in North America. With regard to television, Just For Laughs produces a number of shows that have been broadcast in 135 countries and on 95 airlines. The Just For Laughs Gags series is a groundbreaking hit: to date, it has been seen by millions of TV viewers across the globe, making it the world?s number-one comedy show.