The Just For Laughs Festival is a premier international comedy event, a rib-tickling celebration of the world’s best stand up comedians and laugh-out-loud acts. The Montreal-based show inspires international tours of its headlining comedians, and this year’s Just For Laughs Sydney looks set to offer locals the chance to see some of the funniest comedians in an intimate local setting.

In the past, Just For Laughs Sydney organisers have snagged their fair share of comedy legends. The amazing roster of performers includes Louis C.K., John Cleese, Martin Short, Demetri Martin, Eddie Izzard, Aziz Ansari, Drew Carey, Noel Fielding, Trevor Noah, Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Kathy Griffin, Reggie Watts and so many more. So it’s no surprise that this year’s festival is chock full of funny goodness.

The show will be headlined by controversial British comedian and activist Russell Brand, whose ‘Trew World Order’ tour has wowed fans across Europe and the US. The politically charged gig is sure to offer fans a generous helping of Mr. Brand’s navel gazing comedy styling punctuated by plenty of social ‘philosophising’ and a tirade or two for good measure.

Fellow UK comedy icon Al Murray (The Pub Landlord) will also do a hot run of shows at the Opera House. ‘The Guv’, as he’s known, will surely tickle Aussie audiences with his unique laconic British pub humour.

This year’s Gala night will feature a stellar roster of talent including Tommy Tiernan, Stephen K. Amos, Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson, Danny Bhoy and others. These acts, along with Hannah Gadsby, Cal Wilson, Ronny Chieng, Joel Creasey, Anne Edmonds, Tom Ballard, Tommy Little and Damien Power, will appear in solo shows. Consult the festival program for more information about dates and tickets.

What: The 2015 Sydney Just For Laughs Festival.
When: 19-25 Oct, 2015.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Sydney.
For more information visit: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/program_just_for_laughs.aspx

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The festival is predicated on the idea that multicultural Australia needs more exposure to Latin American culture and arts. The festival doesn’t represent a single Latino/a voice, but instead it promotes the broad identity of a huge continent. Guests can expect films from across the continent to reveal larger differences about Latin American cultures and reflect on their inter-continental relationships. As such, it’s a great experience to gain an understanding of the complex history and culture, as recounted by those within the culture.

This year’s program features the hotly anticipated, award winning documentary Behaviour as the festival opener. The Cuban documentary is seen in some corners as quite controversial, so it makes for a perfect companion to the opening night’s festivities. Cannes Award winners The Vega Brothers (the Latino Coen Brothers?) are also showing their film The Mute, a contemporary black comedy set in Peru. Mexican documentarian Nicolás Echevarría’s Echo of the Mountain is sure to be another festival favourite, with a lyrical, photographic style praised by film buffs the world over. Other films include Stones In The Sun, Mateo, Bad Hair and Uruguayan children’s favourite Anina.

The SLAFF will take place at the George Street Event Cinemas and runs from the 3rd to the 10th of September, 2014. Moviegoers are encouraged to book tickets online through Event or through the Festival’s own website. Over the past eight years, the dedicated organisers have managed to raise more than a hundred thousand dollars for their cause, so do yourself (and others) and favour and head in to this year’s SLAFF!

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