About a year and a half on from Amuz Distribution’s rebrand to Just For Laughs Distribution, the company remains focused on bringing feel-good comedy titles to the world. “We are extremely pleased to continue finding how widely known and loved the Just For Laughs brand is around the world,” says Alex Avon, chief marketing and strategy officer.
Among the titles it is bringing to MIPCOM under the Just For Laughs banner are the classic hits Gags and LOL, which have maintained their success over many years. The former is now in its 26th season while the latter is in its 12th, and the episodes continue to find buyers around the world.
“These two non-verbal shows employ universal themes that everyone, anywhere can relate to—pranks and candid camera-like situations,” Avon explains. “We film around the world as well, and those episodes resonate even better with local audiences.”
Just For Laughs Distribution is also presenting its first international film acquisition—the French WWII comedy Le Jour J, directed by Claude Zidi Jr. and produced by Firstep Production and Radar Films. Starring Kev Adams, Brahim Bouhlel and Marie Parisot, the comedy follows two unlikely heroes who turn the greatest invasion of all time into a funny mistake.
The distributor also has a slew of content on offer from its Just For Laughs Festivals, which took place this summer in Montreal and Toronto. A lineup of top stand-up comedians were filmed as they performed their sets for international distribution.
As such, “we have hundreds of hours of hysterical stand-up comedy, both in English and French, and are curating the best of the best in time for MIPCOM,” Avon says. “We will package some of the content for our French-speaking audiences and aim to have several shows ready for MIPCOM and other fall markets such as MIP Cancun and Asia TV Forum, where we are launching the first Singapore Just For Laughs Festival this November and December.”
Beyond the Just For Laughs-branded content, the distributor has a range of dramedies available as well. “We present humor in a variety of situations,” Avon explains. “Our multi-award-winning dramedy About Antoine is, at its core, a family show with heartfelt and often amusing situations.”
Based on a true story, About Antoine was filmed in Quebec in French, but Just For Laughs Distribution is now presenting a version fully dubbed in English to extend the title’s reach.
“Our motto is ‘to keep the world feeling good,’ and we select content that fits this theme,” Avon says, noting that the slate also features the film 1995, following filmmaker Ricardo Trogi as he encounters humorous situations around the world, and the series Larry, about a former disgraced policeman finding redemption.
As the distributor builds out its offering further, it plans to maintain its focus on titles with comedic tones. “However, we are open to producing other types of programs if the story is wonderful,” Avon notes.
Ultimately, though, “we will continue our mission of ‘keeping the world feeling good’ with the very best content” and will be presenting said content at MIPCOM, MIP Cancun and Asia TV Forum throughout the rest of this year and beyond.
Buyers can meet with Just For Laughs Distribution and its team—including new international sales manager Nicolas Holst-Roy—at MIPCOM this October to learn more about the feel-good titles it has on offer.
Company Info & Contacts
To see the full company contact list with phone and email please Click here
Alex Avon
Chief Revenue & Strategy Officer
Nicolas Holst-Roy
International Sales Manager
Carlos Pacheco
Director, Monetization & OTT
MJ Sorenson
International Communications Rep
