The Comedy Ninja Film and Screenplay Festival aims to be an uproarious three-day free-for-all that will have audiences rolling in the aisles as it showcases the funniest work of comedic performers, directors and writers from around the globe.
Besides showing a bunch of rib-tickling films, the festival will feature hysterical performances by stand-up comedians, surprise celebrity appearances, and a rocking opening night party. There will also be a screenplay competition, a closing night ceremony where Comedy Ninja Hi-yah! Awards will be handed out in all categories, and much more.
The festival, to be held at the Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave. (at First Street) in Little Tokyo, is being presented by seasoned filmmakers Quentin Lee (“White Frog”) and Chuck Parello (“Ed Gein”). Veterans of many film festivals themselves, Lee and Parello are looking to provide an unpretentious and memorably fun event for filmmakers that will allow them to network with industry insiders as their gut-busting work is shown on a big screen to an appreciative audience.
Lee states, “We want to celebrate the things that make people laugh the hardest, to show distinctively hilarious films from distinctively off-the-wall perspectives. This festival will be all about comedy with a kung fu kick.”
Festival at a glance:
Friday, May 30 — “Coffee Kill Boss” (opening night film) at 7 p.m.; “Little *ucker” (Dojo late night film) at 9 p.m.; opening night party from 9 to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 31 — “Dirty Gardening” (comedy short program) at 12 p.m.; “Postal Reality” (comedy short program) at 2 p.m.; SAG-AFTRA panel, “Business of Comedy: Insights from Stand-up, Stage and Screen” (free) at 2 p.m.; “Slow Up the Cake” (comedy short program) at 4 p.m.; “Howard Joins the Club” (centerpiece film) at 7 p.m.; after party at Wolf & Crane from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Sunday, June 1 — “Guarding Guinea Pigs” (comedy short program) at 12 p.m.; “Blissfully Unmarried” (closing film) at 2 p.m.; Laugh Factory panel, “The Architecture of Comedy: Building the Funny from the Ground up” (free) at 2 p.m.; Comedy Ninja Hi-ya! Awards with a tribute to actress Lin Shaye at 4 p.m.; closing party from 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information, visit http://comedyninja.org.