The Broad Humor Film Festival features funny films written by and directed by women. Broad Humor's screenplay competition supports women screenwriters with feature and short categories. The Broad Humor Film Festival honors women who craft stories on film that put a grin on your face or a chuckle in your belly.

WOMEN WRITE. WOMEN DIRECT. EVERYBODY LAUGHS.

The BROAD HUMOR FILM FESTIVAL aims to honor Female Creators of Content. Begun in 2006, Broad Humor was named in 2013 one of the top five festivals for women by MovieMaker magazine. This niche film festival dedicated to comedic films written and directed by women highlights all the ways that women make other women and men laugh and to celebrate their power to do so. Projects submitted with exclusively male writers or directors will be disqualified without refund.

In 2017, Broad Humor recognized 50% of the screenplay submissions, and 1 in 4 films submissions were screened during our 4 - day event. We STRONGLY encourage women directors with feature films to submit their work. We Know you are out there! Send us your funny films.

Finalist screenwriters in attendance are treated to a stage reading by up to a dozen professional stage and film actors from the Los Angeles Area. Excerpts of their work are read before a live (Typically SOLD OUT) audience.

The subject matter of films and screenplays featured in the festival, if not strictly speaking a comedy, must include a healthy dose of humor. We are interested in showcasing all types of funny female voices. We strongly encourage female filmmakers and screenwriters of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds to submit their humorous works. Submissions make up 95% of the programming.

The judging takes into account both the quality of the finished film, the strength of the filmmaker's vision, and puts value on taking risks in style and narrative. A broad farce that only hits in places or a nonlinear absurdist experiment might be selected over a more traditional sitcom style short that is good but unexceptional.

...WHERE WOMEN TICKLE YOUR FUNNY BONE.

Awards & Prizes

Awards ceremony always takes place immediately following the Staged readings, and before the closing night party. Winners will receive software prizes from Write Brothers, makers of Movie Magic and Dramatica screenwriting software. Cash Prizes TBA.

In Addition Every Program includes a raffle giveaway preceding the event.

Rules & Terms

The 15th Annual Broad Humor Film Festival begins accepting submissions on January 17, 2022. Submitted works must be comedic films or screenplays written and/or directed by a woman. Works need not be strictly speaking "comedies" so long as they include a healthy dose of humor.

This is a festival for women creators. Either the writing or directing of the film MUST BE EXCLUSIVELY FEMALE. Films written by women but directed by men (or co-directed with men) are only eligible for writing awards. Best Film awards will go to films directed exclusively and entirely by women.

The jurists takes into account both the quality of the finished film, the strength of the filmmaker's vision, and puts value on taking risks in style and narrative. A broad farce that only hits in places or a nonlinear absurdist experiment might be selected.

1. CATEGORIES:

FILM SUBMISSIONS:

FilmFreeway online screeners is the preferred method of film submissions for those using the online service.

- short films: under 20 minutes TRT
- long shorts: 21-30 minutes TRT
- feature films: up to 120 minutes TRT

SCREENPLAY SUBMISSIONS:
Feature and short screenplays: pdf in standard industry format uploaded to FilmFreeway or emailed to info@broadhumor.com.

- short scripts: under 35 pages
- pilots & web sereis scripts: under 45 pages
- feature scripts: between 75 and 115 pages

If your film or script does not fit the pages/TRT requirements, you may contact the festival to see if it is possible to make special arrangements.

2. PRESS KIT

Press kit information will be requested upon acceptance to the festival. Timely receipt within two weeks of notification is required for participation in the festival.

Submitted materials will not be returned.

3. FEES

All deadlines are are for completed submissions and must include payment of the appropriate fee.

4. QUALIFYING MINIMUM SUBMISSIONS

Submissions must have been completed after December 31, 2020. This includes all films and scripts. (Effective 2023 Season)

When entering submitting produced web series, a minimum of two (2) episodes must be submitted for review. Tied or a link provided where more episodes can be viewed. web series entries that consist of only one episode or web series pilots will be judged within the short films category. (Effective 2023 Season)

5. WORKS-IN-PROGRESS

We strongly discourage works-in-progress. By their very nature, works-in-progress require multiple viewing by multiple jurists to finalize selection for screening. Because staffing is limited, we do not guarantee films can be review beyond established protocols. (Effective 2023 Season)

6. PROMOTIONAL USE

Participants agree that all materials related to their film may be published in the Festival Program, Web page and all other promotional materials or property and in all media. Posters and images of the film may be used independently as well as in combination with images from other films to promote the film and Broad Humor Film Festival.

7. CLEARANCES

It is the responsibility of the filmmakers to be sure they have proper clearances, as needed, for copyrighted material appearing in their entries. The filmmakers remain entirely liable for any claims that may occur in result of screening the entries.

7. CLOSING CREDITS

It is the philosophy of this festival to screen as many noteworthy films possible.To this end, Broad Humor reserves the write to edit end credits for any film submitted. Edit does not mean exclusion. Edit means shorten for time or abridge to just Above The Line players. This is for exhibition only. All films are watched from beginning to end during the judging process. (Effective 2023 Season)

PLEASE NOTE: As with all submissions to Broad Humor, a woman must either be the sole writer or sole director. On film submissions, men can serve EITHER as director or writer. However, if a male is a collaborator in both or either categories, the film will be either disqualified, or screened "out of competition". On screenplay submissions, only scripts for which ALL WRITERS ARE FEMALE will be considered. A male writer or co-writer WILL disqualify the submission.
71 Reviews
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  • Jannike Grut

    I am so grateful for the visit in LA and The broad humor film festival! It was an absolute wonderful experience. Good seminar days before the festivals for us with films. Great networking during the film screening days. With their hospitality, they created a very generous atmosphere amongst us, the filmmakers. I will for sure return! I didn't only get a great experience, I also got new colleagues and friends within film all over the world. Thank you!

    November 2022
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  • Kate Kelsen

    Highly recommend this festival! Although I was unable to attend, I felt so much a part of this program. The communication and receptivity were fantastic. Very welcoming and supportive of female filmmakers. Will definitely submit future films!

    October 2022
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  • Amanda Serra

    Broad Humor is very well-run, and the organizers have a wonderful sense of "humor." They support women filmmakers in comedy genres, and celebrate tight screenwriting and cinematography. It is no wonder Broad Humor has been successfully running for over 15 years. This will be a festival we will enthusiastically continue to submit our work to.

    October 2022
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  • Veronica R. Tabares

    Great festival. Loved being a part of it!

    September 2022
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  • Mahogany Zachary

    Good festival. Good communication with filmmakers. I loved the goodie bags. The brunch was also very informative.
    I will be attending this festival again in the future.

    September 2022
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