Big shock wave in the humor world. Due to multi-million debts, the Just for Laughs Group has decided to cancel its Just for Laughs and Just For Laughs festivals for this summer and has filed a notice of intent to make a proposal under the Bankruptcy Act and the insolvency of Canada. However, the door is not closed to a return of the festival in 2025.
• Read also: Just for Laughs premises seized in Montreal
The Just for Laughs Group is considering a complete restructuring of the company. To do this, 75 employees were dismissed Tuesday morning. The company is reportedly carrying debts of tens of millions of dollars.
“This process will enable JPR to restructure its business and seek strategic investors or buyers for all or part of its business, with the aim of maximizing value for stakeholders and, where possible, preserving business continuity,” we can read in a press release.
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JPR, JFL and Zoofest in the twister
Thus, the 2024 edition of the Just For Laughs festival, as well as that of Just For Laughs, will not take place in July. The company is not closing the door on bringing the festival back later this year in another form. “Once the restoration is completed, we hope that the festival will take place in 2025,” she said in the press release.
The “little brother” of Just for Laughs, Zoofest, is also in trouble. The festival geared towards emerging comedians would have presented its 15the edition this summer.
As for the tours produced by Just for Laughs, contrary to what was announced yesterday morning, they still remain on the bill, and the comedians, including Eve Côté, Louis T. and Jean-Sébastien Girard, have asked the public to not get their tickets refunded at this time [voir autre texte].
The sale changed everything
Contacted by The newspaper, a former Just for Laughs employee, who requested anonymity, said the group lost a lot of money last year with its festivals in London, Toronto and Montreal. “It is certain that the financial situation could not have been very good. And when a festival is not doing well, the production bank account is used to pay the debts.”
For the latter, it was the sale of Gilbert Rozon to new owners in 2018 that changed everything. Bell and evenko, as well as the Americans ICM Partners, now Creative Artists Agency, shared the shares.
“Before, it was a family company with a boss who took risks. There, they are directors who report to a board of directors. So everything becomes business. It’s not the same approach.”
Income did not follow
For Martin Roy, of the Grouping of Major International Events (REMI), the situation is “extremely difficult for festivals which are presented free of charge. This is the epicenter of the problems. […] There is a considerable increase in production and operating costs. And income does not follow this curve.”
The president of REFRAIN (Grouping of independent regional artistic festivals), Patrick Kearney, is saddened by this bankruptcy. “We are losing a big player. Just for Laughs was one of the precursors of festivals in Quebec.”
Also general director of the Santa Teresa festival, Patrick Kearney hopes that the public money that was paid annually to Just for Laughs – we would be talking about six to seven million – will help other festivals in the greater metropolitan region. “They are the ones who make the region rich in cultural events.”
What they said:
“It is with regret that I learned of the decision of the Just for Laughs Group. I would like to salute the work and dedication of all the employees, who contribute enormously to the influence of humor and of Montreal. We will miss the Just for Laughs Festival this summer. It is a flagship event on the Montreal cultural scene and in the summer programming of the Quartier des spectacles. Hopefully, the group’s restructuring activities will allow it to make a comeback. Humor is an integral part of our culture and we will continue to support it. I asked the City of Montreal teams to contact the organization to assess the planned follow-up.”
– Valérie Plante (mayor of Montreal)
“The Just for Laughs festival is a rich heritage, an emblem of our cultural community that has made Quebec shine internationally. My thoughts are first and foremost with the laid-off employees and artists affected by this news from the JPR Group.”
– Mathieu Lacombe (Minister of Culture)
“All my thoughts to the artists, artisans and the organization of the Just for Laughs Group. Just for Laughs has been promoting our culture and highlighting our emerging artistic talent for so many years thanks to its shows, festivals and productions. There is no doubt that the cancellation of the 2024 edition of the Just for Laughs festival will leave a great cultural and economic void for our metropolis.”
– Marc Tanguay (interim leader of the Liberal Party)
“To the people who are losing their jobs today, to the colleagues who are losing their shows, to those who were looking forward to festivals this summer to replenish their coffers and to the public who were looking forward to being entertained; I’m sending you a huge dose of love!”
– Christine Morency (comedian)
“My heart goes out to the people affected by what is happening with Just For Laughs. My heart goes out to my colleagues and all these craftsmen who have carried this company through the storms for several years now. Behind this emblematic logo which falls, freelancers lose part of their income, fathers and mothers lose their jobs.
– Jonathan Roberge (comedian)
Just for laughs in 10 dates
1983: The Just for Laughs festival is born, founded by Gilbert Rozon.
1985: The English counterpart – Just for Laughs – is created to spread humor in both languages.
1988: The Just for Laughs festival hits the streets. An outdoor section is added to the indoor programming, also accompanied by the musical theme composed by none other than Serge Fiori.
1990: A French subsidiary of Just for Laughs is inaugurated in Paris, allowing the Rozon Group – founded by Gilbert Rozon – to enter Europe.
1993: The Just for Laughs Museum opens its doors in a space adjacent to the Just for Laughs Group building, rue Saint-Laurent. The establishment will close its doors in 2011.
2006: The Just for Laughs festival is exporting with a very first edition held in Nantes, France. In the following years, events will be organized for the Quebec flagship in Toronto, then in Chicago and Sydney.
2009: Zoofest – little brother of the Just for Laughs festival – was established with the mandate to provide a showcase for emerging talents.
2010: The Just for Laughs festival is moving its outdoor activities; after more than two decades occupying the Latin Quarter, it is now on the Place des festivals that we meet the public.
2017: In the midst of the #MeToo movement, Gilbert Rozon leaves his position as president of the Just for Laughs Group following a series of testimonies from women saying they were victims of harassment or sexual assault by the Quebec humor mogul .
2018: The Just for Laughs Group is sold to the Creative Artists Agency (at the time ICM Partners) which holds 49%. Bell Media and the CH Group share 51% of the shares.
– With the collaboration of Bruno Lapointe