Are you like me? Always looking for signs of life in the world of television comedy? Sick of dramas such as The Bear being nominated as Outstanding Comedy Series? Perhaps you have a pilot script that has HUGE LAFFS written all over it?
The Banff World Media Festival announced Thursday that it has teamed up with the creators of Hot Pilot Party to help kick start some funny business in Canada.
Hot Pilot Party? No, not Porter meets Chippendales. More like TWA — Top Writers Aboard. Hot Pilot Party was introduced last year during the Toronto International Film Festival to bring together the Toronto film and TV community and celebrate unproduced comedy talent. Launched by Nadine Bhabha, Julian De Zotti, and Hannah Antaki, the Toronto event featured Eric McCormack, Amanda Brugel, Jess Salgueiro and Ennis Esmer and others (above) and played to a sold-out crowd.
Hot Pilot Party: Banff will feature a live table read of an unproduced Canadian half-hour comedy pilot performed by top-tier talent. In other words, writers: if you’ve got a sitcom pilot that is ready to play before an audience of television industry movers and shakers, does Banff ever have an opportunity for you.
WHEN:
The live table read will take place during the 46th annual Banff World Media Festival, running from Sunday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
WHERE:
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta
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SUBMISSION DETAILS:
A call for submissions is now open to Canadian comedy writers. Five unproduced comedy pilots will be selected:
- One script will be chosen for a live table read at BANFF.
- Four additional scripts will be featured at the festival, receiving international trade press exposure and a complimentary pass to the festival.
THE WRITER OF THE SCRIPT CHOSEN TO BE READ AT BANFF WILL RECEIVE:
- Complimentary 2025 BANFF pass.
- Two nights’ hotel accommodation in Banff.
- $300 CAD travel stipend.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:
February 14, 2025
ENTRY GUIDELINES:
- Open to Canadian Citizens only.
- Writers must own the intellectual property of their submitted script.
- Submissions must be unproduced and not optioned.
- Comedy pilots must be under 40 pages (PDF format only).
The submission portal is open now. For inquiries, contact Erin Conway at [email protected].
Don’t just stand there — be funny and get it down on paper!
