Posts Tagged ‘Providence Comedy Festival’

Although there are many festivals currently seeking submissions, this new festival started by some Hollywood East Connection favorites is worth entering and definitely checking out.

Because The 989 Project (a Rhode Island production company) helped found The Providence Comedy Festival, filmmaking is understandably an extension.  The festival is currently accepting comedic short films that are no longer than 10 minutes.  The early deadline to submit is February 1 for a fee of $10 and the extended deadline of February 5 warrants a $15 fee and is for New England filmmakers only. Submission forms can be found on their website.  Accepted films will be eligible for awards in Best Comedic Short, Best New England Short, and The RIFC Best Rhode Island Short.

Along with funny short films and the usual stand up comedy you find at comedy festivals (this year’s headliners include MA native Jennifer Coolidge and Frank Santorelli), there will be a slew of other related events.  Some of these include interactive game-shows, afternoon improv classes (with one of the two classes devoted to couples), open mic opportunities, and a stand-up competition.  There will also be an opening night event featuring a performance by Rhode Island residents Improv Jones and sketch comedy troupe, Empire Revue.

These diverse events come out of the desire to celebrate the great comedic outlets that Rhode Island offers.  As Anthony Ambrosino, Creative Director of the 989 Project and one of the founders of the Providence Comedy Festival states, “I’m a big fan of comedy, and Rhode Island has a number of fantastic outlets for it, from the Improv Jones and Unexpected Company Improv troupes, to the great stand-up at the Comedy Connection and Catch a Rising Star, to the number of talented filmmakers locally at the Rhode Island Film Collaborative. I thought it would be great to bring all of that together and see what type of “Comedic Jazz” we could create.”

Those interested in supporting local comedy in Rhode Island can buy tickets for events ranging from $5 to $25 through Ticketmaster.  In addition to being pretty affordable, you can also feel good about your purchase.  Partial proceeds of ticket sales will benefit Al’s House, Moving Minds, which provides adults in the early stages of cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia with quality programs that are both enriching and engaging.

For more information about entering the Providence Comedy Festival and for a full schedule, make sure to visit their website.