Editor

The L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival is celebrating its 3rd year of making audiences laugh til' they chafe their throats. (Lozenges provided on request).
 
LACSFF is touted as the largest comedy film festival in the US, introducing the freshest comedy talent to the industry. The four-day celebration of comedic short films and the people who make them will be held from April 7 - 10 at the Downtown Independent Theater (251 S. Main St.).
 
"We've scoured the solar system for the funniest short films ever seen (and not seen) and strategically crammed them into a jam-packed 4-day weekend of unforgiving stupid-funnility. This is science, folks.  Funny Science," comments Artist Director Gary Anthony Williams. Festival Director Jeannie Roshar chimes in: "Some films have the power  to change the World.  Our films have the power to change your mood. And then once you're in a better mood, go for it on the World-Changing thing!!"
 
Some of the shenanigans on the menu include:
 
THE FILMS:
 
This year's films kick off with an Opening Night screening of celebrity shorts, starring such talent as Michael Cera, Kids in the Hall's Scott Thompson, Rex Lee from Entourage, and Tim Daly from The Practice, along with some brand new shorts from FunnyorDie.com. 
 
The competitive line-up features 85 short films from around the world, programmed into aptly titled screening blocks: 
 
*As Seen on TV                                                                   *Shut Your Wormhole
*Boys, Toys and Goys                                                          *Stone-Cold Busted
*Male Pattern Badness                                                        *Mo Money, Mo' Ninjas
*Armageddon Hungry                                                          *Fish and Chicks
*Better Than Birth Control                                                 *Liars and Tigers and Bears
 
Filmmakers will compete for over $25,000 in cash and prizes in the following categories: The Funny or Die Best-of-Fest Grand Prize, Atom.com Best Comedy Short Film (30 minutes or less), Atomic Wedgie Best Comedy ‘Shortie' Short (5 minutes or less) and Atom.com Best Animated Comedy Short (30 minutes or less), as well as the Elevate Best Student Short and the State Tax Credit Exchange Audience Choice Award. 
 
THE PARTIES:
 

• An evening of Aural Pleasure...following the opening screening of celebrity shorts, join in the fun of Celebrity Karaoke, hosted by the LACSFF-crowned "King" & "Queen" of Karaoke, Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911) and Mary Elizabeth Ellis (Perfect Couples, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) at J Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles. 

• "Grown-A$$ Kid" Party, sponsored by Atom.com.  Come celebrate the World Premiere of Atom.com's new series Matumbo Goldberg starring Anthony Anderson.  Get in touch with your inner child at ESPN Zone's 10,000 sq. ft. Sports Arena featuring over 45 interactive games and attractions all set on free-play!

• Big guys and Bollywood!  The red carpet awards gala just got a little sexier thanks to the L.A. Comedy Shorts STUDS IN SHORTS, and the Taal Dance company at the beautiful sky-high Elevate Lounge on Sunday April 10 at 7:00p.m.  Film Awards will be announced at that time, as well as the presentation of the coveted COMMIE AWARD.

THE COMPETITION:
 
TheMovie Magic Screenwriter Competition is run in conjunction with the festival. Comedy screenwriters from around the world compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes, including travel, accommodations and two VIP passes to the festival in Los Angeles, CA.  Winning scripts are read by some of the biggest agencies in the industry.
 
The Screenplay Finalists have been selected as follows:
 
Feature Screenplays:
 
Escaping Phoenix, byDani Lyman 
Brother of the Bride, byHelen Castles
Most Likely to Conceive, byPatrick Hasson & Aitan Spring
 
Half-Hour TV Pilots:
 
High Noon-ish, byBob Yates
Morley and Leslie, byThomas O'Connor
Those Qaddam Arabs, byAyser Salman 
 
Short Screenplays:
 
The Curse of Don Scarducci, by Chris Fondulas 
Validation, byBerenice Freedome Short
Thugs, The Musical, byKevin Avery 
 
And there's more!
 

• Each day will begin with insightful and delightful Industry Panels such as the popular "Famous People Talkin' About Sh*t" and"Let's Get Digital, Digital"

• Daily Cocktail receptions for Filmmakers at the theater.

 
Films will be screened in the afternoons and evenings.  See screening schedule  
Just a few of the key celebrity players involved include Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Modern Family's Julie Bowen, Let's Make A Deal's Wayne Brady, Dodgeball's Missi Pyle, Desperate Housewives' Brian Austin Green, Austin Power's Mindy Sterling, SNL's Laraine Newman, Pee Wee's Playhouse's Lynne Stewart, According to Jim's Larry Jo Campbell, Perfect Couples' Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Kids in the Hall's Scott Thompson, James Urbaniak, Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder, Malcolm in the Middle's David Higgins, Reno 911's Cedric Yarbrough, Phil Lamarr and Wendi McLendon-Covey, Mad TV's Keegan Michael Key, Daniele Gaither, Jordan Peale, Futurama's Maurice LaMarche, Mike and Molly's Nyambi Nyambi, SpongeBob Square Pants' Tom Kenny and Boondock's Jill Talley and Aaron McGruder.
 
Key sponsors include Funny or Die, Atom.com,State Tax Credit Exchange, Elevate Lounge, Takami Sushi, Movie Magic Screenwriter, J Lounge,Downtown Independent Theatre, Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, Revel Stoke whiskey and Ventura Limoncello.