About the Film Festival

ABOUT

The Play the Fool Film Festival for clowning on screen opens April Fools Day (April 1st)! Based out of Amiskwaciwâskahikan, also known as Edmonton, Canada, the festival highlights local artists in an international framework, screening short clown & physical comedy films from across the globe.

Sister to our Play The Fool Theatre Festival, the film fest welcomes interpretations of clowning from all corners of the world. International and local films are curated by an expert jury and presented at an annual live event. Engaging, creative content is more important than slick production values.

The 2022 festival will feature 2 programs:

  1. The Play the Fool International Short Films – 2 minute films from around the world, selected by an independent, expert jury.
  2. The Play the Fool Original films – Original, 2-minute clown/physical-comedy themed films 6 commissioned Edmonton/ Amiskwaciwâskahikan artist-filmmakers.

The Play the Fool Film Festival community has a mandate to support films by local artists within an international framework.

Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.

Charlie Chaplin

KEY DATES

  • Call for submissions opens November
  • Submission deadline: early March
  • Notification mid-March
  • Live screening event and Festival launch, April 1st
  • Online link access for one year

Are you a clown new to filmmaking? Are you a filmmaker new to clown and physical comedy? We want to help you out! Check out our Resources for Filmmakers.