ABOUT THE FESTIVAL.

BECAUSE THEY’RE FUNNY (BTF), is a new comedy festival showcasing comedic talent within BIPOC communities. BTF’s mission is to elevate the image of stand-up comedy as an art form, propel a new generation of diverse comedians and content creators to stardom, and promote entertainment in the comedy genre that features people of color.

Created for industry insiders and casual fans alike, the BTF lineup will feature headline acts, standup showcases, industry workshops, panels, screenings and parties.

The inaugural event, in partnership with Events DC, will take place along the Wharf, a popular entertainment hub on Washington, DC’s southwest waterfront, from October 6-8, 2023.

Awards & Prizes

Festival Selection and Prizes:
If selected, the writer of the submission will receive two (2) BTF Laugh Passes (valued at $1,000) providing access to select festival events.

Rules & Terms

COMEDY CREATORS SLAM

Description: A showcase of comedic short form content (films, series, or sketch comedy) 15 minutes or less, written by BIPOC creators.

Eligibility:
Open only to permanent, legal United States ("U.S.") residents who are physically residing in one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories).
All entrants must be twenty-one (21) years of age who identify as Black, Latino, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander or Middle Eastern who are eligible to work in the U.S.

Submission Criteria:
Content must be no longer than 15 minutes in length.
Complete all required fields and upload your submission and all supporting documents including logline synopsis, writer bio, promotional still, project website etc.
Content must be produced after January 01, 2022.
Content must be in the English language or contain English subtitles.
Multiple entries are permitted from any given writer.
Only content in the genre of comedy will be accepted.
Fee: $20 per entry.

Submission: Deadline: July 1, 2023
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Perry DiVirgilio

    What an amazing experience. So much talent and the organizers were top-notch. Was my first entry into a festival and I couldn't have asked for a better intro. Thank you!

    October 2021
    Helpful
  • Kaili Turner

    Shoutout to the ABFF Comedy Festival for having my sketch Maybe it's Melanin as part of their first annual comedy festival. We had a great time zoom networking and seeing the variety of comedy!

    July 2021
    Helpful