On March 22nd- 28th, 2015, iOWest will host the best and the brightest comedy has to offer at the 3rd Annual LA Scripted Comedy Festival.
This week long event will feature shows simultaneously on three stages, host various competition categories for performers, boast celebrity headliners and judges, as well as offer a variety of comedy writing workshops.
The highlight of the festival will be the plethora of performances by groups and comedians, from the U.S and abroad, covering all things scripted comedy: sketch, solo, variety, storytelling, stand up, podcasts, talk shows, pilots (live reads and filmed), video shorts, and short films.
There will also be special celebrity guest performances and appearances that are not to be missed.
In addition to the featured shows, there will be several competition categories for performers:
- Sketch Cage Match
- Stand Up
- 24-Hour Sketch
- Storytelling
- Video Shorts (5 minutes and under)
- Filmed Pilots (25 minutes and under)
- Written Pilots
- Video Competition (over 5 min and under 30 min)
- 48-Hour Video Short
Participants can enter multiple categories and compete for prizes awarded to the winners of each category.
In addition to the performance aspect of the festival, iOWest will also be offering numerous comedy writing workshops that cover such topics as: television, screenplay, sketch, talk show, SNL, joke and solo writing as well as stand up, podcasting and storytelling. Performers of all skill levels and experience are welcome to attend. These workshops will be led by current iO West instructors as well as special guests who are currently working in the industry; credits include SNL, Conan, Key and Peele, Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kids In The Hall, The Emmys, Shameless, Cougar Town, MADtv and many more.
We are pleased to honor iO alumni Chris Farley by naming The Chris Farley House as the festival’s official beneficiary. A percentage of all festival show and workshop total revenue will be donated to the house, a state-certified residential treatment program for recovering men and women, located in the late comedian’s hometown of Madison, WI. The facility offers sober, structured living, as well as case management and counseling, to assist with the transition to productive independent living and employment.
Prizes include cash, stage time or a monthly show at iO West & the Comedy Central Stage, meetings with casting directors and literary agents, networking opportunities with celebrity judges and more.