The Toronto Sketch Comedy Film Festival

Overview

THIS is Toronto's Comedy Festival. Be part of an incredible comedy community that has been gathering every March in Toronto for 22 years! Connect with other comedy creators and showcase your work to TOsketchfest's audience of comedy lovers from across North America. TOsketchfest27 returns March 3–14, 2027 with a full slate of live performances on multiple Toronto stages. The festival will kick off with the Premiere Screening of The Toronto Sketch Comedy Film Festival. Get your team together, meet other comedy creators, and revel in the thrill of watching your work with a live and enthusiastic audience. Grab some snacks and popcorn, and be there to walk the TOsketchfest Blue Shag Carpet at what has become a crowd-favourite tradition and marquee kick-off event for Toronto's longest-running comedy festival. THE TORONTO SKETCH COMEDY FILM FESTIVAL The Toronto Sketch Comedy Film Festival celebrates the best in comedy on screen — from bite-sized digital sketches to longer-form comedy projects. We're looking for solo character bits, commercial parodies, ensemble sketches, musical comedy, animation, web series, comedy specials and micro-comedy (IG Reels and TikToks). If it's short, hilarious, or simply too good to keep off the big screen, we want to showcase it! AND NEW FOR TOsketchfest27: SPECIAL SCREENING SERIES We're expanding our film festival submissions to include longer-form comedy projects up to 45 minutes through our new Special Screening Series. Whether you're creating a 30-second TikTok, a 7-minute sketch, or a brand-new web series pilot, there's a place for your work at TOsketchfest. TOsketchfest is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and anti-racist space where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We strive for an atmosphere of respectful creative exchange, and positive personal and professional growth. We will not accept submissions that contain racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or hateful language, imagery, or actions. WHAT CAN I SUBMIT? MICRO-SHORTS Duration – :10–1:30 Send us your IG Reels, TikToks and/or bite-size sketches. COMEDY SHORTS Duration – up to 7:00 Send us your hilarious short-form sketches, characters, music, parodies and other digital comedy. *NEW THIS YEAR - SPECIAL SCREENING Duration – up to 45:00 Have something bigger? New for TOsketchfest27, we're opening submissions for longer-form comedy projects that deserve to be experienced with a live audience. We're looking for: - Web series pilots and launch episodes - Standalone web series episodes - Long-form sketch comedy - Scripted Comedy specials - Narrative comedy and mockumentary projects - Musical or variety comedy - Longer-form ensemble or character-based comedy - Other ambitious filmed comedy projects that are made to be experienced with an audience Selected projects will be presented as part of a curated special screening experience, with an opportunity for the filmmakers and creators to engage directly with the audience through a post-screening talk-back or Q&A. LOOKING FOR A PREMIERE OR LAUNCH PLATFORM? While a Toronto or Canadian premiere is not required, we're especially interested in projects looking to make their Toronto or Canadian premiere as part of TOsketchfest. Launching a new web series? Premiering a new comedy special? Have a longer-form sketch project you've been waiting to share with an audience? The Special Screening Event offers artists an opportunity to share and give their work a proper festival launch and on the big screen, in front of a live comedy audience. A brief talkback with the artists will also be included as part of the event. We welcome submissions from creators anywhere in the world. Please note that at least one member of your team MUST be in attendance for the screening. WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? TOsketchfest offers creators the opportunity to connect with a passionate community of comedy makers and fans from across North America. Selected filmmakers and creators will have the opportunity to see their work presented to a live, enthusiastic festival audience in Toronto, connect with other comedy creators, and be part of Toronto's longest-running comedy festival. For selected Special Screening Event projects, creators will also have the opportunity to participate in a post-screening talk-back/Q&A, creating a chance to connect directly with the audience and discuss their work. TOsketchfest also offers creators access to a free/low-cost professional development and learning series, including hands-on workshops, panels and networking events, with in-person and online options for comedy enthusiasts. DATES, DEADLINES & FEES SUBMISSIONS OPEN – SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 MICRO-SHORT Early Bird – $20 Regular Deadline – $25 Extended – $30 COMEDY SHORT Early Bird – $25 Regular Deadline – $30 Extended – $35 SPECIAL SCREENING EVENT Early Bird – $30 Regular Deadline – $35 Extended – $40 Early Bird Deadline: September 24, 2026 Regular Deadline: October 15, 2026 Extended Deadline: November 5, 2026 If you have a show, sketch or comedy project that's outside the box – or you're not sure which category is right for your work – reach out to us before completing your application. We'd love to hear what you're making and discuss whether it's a good fit for TOsketchfest. As well, if you have any questions about deadlines… Please email ivan@torontosketchfest.com. Come make us laugh!

Last updated Sep 12, 2026

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Festival Details

FilmFreeway communityGold festival

• Filmmaker

  This is an absolutely fantastic festival that I can highly recommend! They embraced our micro short "I Don't Want Him Either" giving us publicity during the festival and we were so honoured to be on their opening night. And then the best thing? Today I came home to a cheque from them because they revenue share! Love this festival!

• Filmmaker

  Heather Hawthorn Doyle

• Filmmaker

  Having my film 'Got It' play at To Sketch Fest's film festival was an amazing experience! Getting the opportunity to be screened along with so many other hilarious films was a great honour! The entire format of the festival made it really easy to attend shows as an artist and the networking events for artists were a great way to build and foster new connections! Can't wait for the 20th anniversary next year and more of a great festival experience!

• Filmmaker

  It was my first time at TOSketchfest, and I can't wait to go back! Ivan and the team were incredibly hospitable and make me feel so welcome. Lots of classes, networking events, brunches, all that jazz and the venue also had a bar/cafe downstairs for casual hangouts. The team really does put a ton of work and heart into making this festival happen, and it shows!

• Filmmaker

  Really, really strong slate of some seriously well produced and seriously funny shorts this year! Had a blast premiering my newest short Onlyfans with the fest, one of my favourite rooms to screen new work!

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