Calling all FUNNY female and gender-diverse 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 present….

*THE COMEDY IGNITER*

WHAT IS IGNITER?
-A comedy film challenge: 1 prompt. 1 month. 1 film.

-Open to female and gender-diverse Canadian filmmakers nationwide.

-2025 saw in-kind prizes of $50,000+ awarded to participants.

-But the real win? You did it. You made a hilarious film for your reel and resume.

SIGN UP INFO:
-Select a lead point-person who will be designated the key responsibilities of receiving information, signing up and uploading project information on FilmFreeway, and distributing materials and communication to the rest of the team.

-Sign up/login to FilmFreeway and create a new film project - ensure that your lead point-person email and contact info are correctly labelled.

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

-Enter the main point of contact under “Submitter Information”.

-Tell us who your key applicants are under “credits” (writer/director/producer/main cast). This can be updated/changed later. Key applicants must identify as female or gender diverse.

-No specifications or screenings/distribution needed at this time.

-Save project.

-Hit the green “submit now” button with your selected “Comedy Igniter” project. Add to cart and checkout. The $150 payment covers all your program fees; you’re officially an Igniter!

Please note that your judging status will remain “undecided” until after the final films have been submitted and juried in early March.

A CFF representative will be in contact with your lead point-person via the email listed in your profile regarding next steps and workshop details.

See our websites for more info and 2025 key dates:
https://www.canfilmfest.ca/comedy-igniter-2026
www.firecrackerdepartment.com/cfffirecracker-film-igniter

Awards & Prizes

YOUR SIGN-UP INCLUDES:

-Exclusive Igniter Mixer: Find your filmmaking co-conspirators, or come to network.

-Igniter Program Guide (PDF): Tips to balance your four-week filmmaking sprint for maximum success.

-Invitation to Igniter Industry Day: Level up with an afternoon of organized roundtables led by comedy and filmmaking community leaders.

-Custom Comedy Prompt: One iconic prompt from a beloved comedy artist – the spark that kicks off the entire challenge.

-Firecracker Department Community access: Tap into a vibrant online network for support, ideas, pep talks, problem-solving, and creative camaraderie.

-Eligibility to screen at the 2026 Comedy Igniter Showcase during 2026 CFF (8 films are selected)

-Selected showcase films received juried feedback in front of a live audience from industry professionals. Past jurors included Carolyn Taylor (I Have Nothing), Allana Harkin (Nesting), Lauren MacKinlay (Bell Media), Sarah Quan (CBC), and Aurora Browne (Baroness Von Sketch)

-Two Complimentary CFF Festival Passes: A value of $500.00+ each, includes access to all screenings and industry series events (excluding the Masterclass).

-Complimentary Firecracker Comedy Café Tickets

-Submission fee waiver for the 2027 Firecracker Film Fest for B.C. Igniter residents

-Screening during the monthly Firecracker Department Comedy Brunch (Date TBD)

-VIP invitation to the yearly Firecracker Department Brunch during TIFF

-A finished short film with an ATL credit!

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY & REGULATIONS

1.Key applicants must self-identify as female or gender diverse and be 18+.

2. Key applicants must be the writer, director, and/or producer of the project. We don’t care who comes on to support you, but we want to see female/non-binary names taking up those key credits and starring roles.

3. Key applicants must be Canadian citizens 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 the specific prompts or risk ineligibility. Prompts will be presented to applicants on February 1, 2026.

6. All creativity and principal photography (writing/shot-listing/designing/shooting/editing/post-production/delivery) must occur during the official filming period, February 1 - February 28, 2026. The majority of each 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's focus on the films will be on story, comedy and execution of vision. We recognize that all teams have various access to resources, so production quality will not be the priority for assessment and consideration. 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 the art used in the film.

11. Final films must be uploaded to FilmFreeway in its media format requirements.

12. Candian Film Fest/Firecracker Dept reserve the right to disqualify entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant. Content involving nudity, minors, guns, sexual violence, or other offensive material will not be accepted.

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

14. The Canadian Film Fest and Firecracker Department require that you acknowledge Comedy Igniter’s support by including our company logos in the end credits of the project. 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).

More questions? www.canfilmfest.ca/igniter-2026-info
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  • Andrea Ramolo

    The Comedy Igniter Showcase at this year's Canadian Film Festival was incredible. The lineup of films was exceptional and funny and I was so honoured to be awarded Best Director for my short comedy Happy Hour. Happy 20th anniversary Canadian Film Festival. I hope to be back!

    April 2026
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  • Monica Rodriguez Knox

    Fantastic Festival ran by some pretty amazing industry leaders. The Comedy Igniter is such a great program to champion female and gender diverse filmmakers into action. Great films, very helpful feedback and prizes. Thrilled our film "Hockey Mom" won for "Best Producing". Thank you for having us and for supporting us every step of the way!!

    March 2026
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