I’m not sure where my act fits. My show combines elements from more than one category. What should I do?
Please pick the category that best describes your show. The application will require you to fill out a bio for your act and you can provide more detail there.

I don’t identify as a woman. Can I submit?
Yes! WICF is open to comedians of all genders.

Is there a minimum age to submit?
We take applications from performers of all ages. We had our youngest performer ever at age 14 in 2017.

Which categories of comedy may be submitted to the festival?

• Improv: 12-25 Minutes
• Musical Comedy (scripted or unscripted): 5-25 minutes
• Sketch: 5-25 minutes
• Stand Up: 5-7 minutes
  Live shows should be submitted on the submissions page on this site.
• Films should be submitted via our listing at FilmFreeway.com.

Do you accept submissions for podcasts?
We are accepting podcast submissions as part of your improv, musical comedy, sketch, or stand up application. We’re not accepting podcast applications as a standalone category. We hope to add podcasting as its own category open to non-performers sometime in the future. Should you include a podcast submission with your live show submission, your podcast will only be accepted if your live show submission is accepted. We have very limited space for live recordings in front of an audience, but you are always welcome to tape your podcasts during the festival on your own time.

What information will I need to submit for my act to be considered?
The application details all the information you’ll need to supply to WICF. Once you register your free account, which is the very first step in the application process, you can work on your application, save your work and log back in to finish. If you don’t have all the information, you can come back anytime before the deadline and finish filling it in.

In summary, you’ll need to:

• Create a free account and make sure you’re logged in
• Submit your basic information, including short and full bios for your act (short bio limited to 175 words, full bio limited to 1200 words) and act photo (please submit a photo that is a minimum of 150kb and maximum 400kb, jpg format)
• Submit a web link to a live, unedited performance of your act. Your video must conform to the following lengths:
  – Stand Up: 5-7 minutes
  – Improv: 12-25 minutes
  – Sketch: 5-25 minutes
  – Musical Comedy (scripted or unscripted): 5-25 minutes
• Complete the application by submitting your payment

What’s this “Free Account” business? Are you going to send me spam?
No! We will use your contact email only to correspond with you regarding your application(s). We will not share your account information with any third party. You will have the option to opt out of receiving our newsletter when you sign up for your account by unchecking the sign up checkbox.

Hey, I know someone who runs the festival, can’t I just email that person my submission info?
No, please! While we always love to hear from colleagues, old friends, and long-lost relatives, it’s important that all our submissions come through the same channel, both for our benefit and yours. Please do not send us a submission in any other way than by filling out the official form.

Can you waive my submission fee for a very good reason I can tell you about?
Unfortunately, in order to be fair to all applicants, we cannot waive fees. Our fees are used to pay for the expenses that make the festival possible. We recommend applying early to take advantage of the $35 submission fee. The fee increases to $45 on November 16th, 2019.

I have multiple acts I would like to submit. Do I need to create separate accounts? Do I need to fill out separate applications?
You only need to create one account. You may then log in whenever you want and submit as many acts as you wish, but each act will require a separate application and fee.

What is included the “Musical Comedy” category?
Comedy music groups or solo acts (e.g. Garfunkel and Oates, Weird Al), scripted comedic musicals (e.g. Spamalot but much shorter, Spamalittle), and improvised musical comedy.

My group does video sketches. Can we submit our videos in the sketch category?
While sketch groups may show some video during their shows, the content must be at least half live sketch. Your submission video must be of a live, unedited show, in which at least half the content is live material.

If you prefer working in video format, consider submitting to WICF’s film festival. Submissions for the film festival will open at a later date. Requirements will be announced soon. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when film festival submissions open.

When will film festival submissions open and what are the submission deadlines?
Film submissions are open. Final Deadline is March 15th. We proudly accept entries via FilmFreeway.

I don’t see the film category on the live show submissions page. How do I apply?
We proudly accept entries via FilmFreeway.

When is my live show submission due and what are the fees?
Regular Deadline: November 15th, 2019, $35
Extended Deadline:  January 15th, 2020, $45

When is my application considered complete?
You may log in and work on your application as many times as you like. Your application will only be considered complete and submitted once you’ve successfully completed payment, which is the final step.

I submitted my application but I want to make a change!
Once you’ve submitted your application, it’s considered final and you will no longer be able to make any changes. If you are accepted, you’ll be able to update your information, bio, and photo at that time. You can, however, always change your contact email by logging into your account, even after you submit your application.

How do I know if you have received my submission?
Once you submit payment, you will see a confirmation page from Paypal that your payment has been processed. You will then be automatically redirected to the application site where you will see a confirmation page that your application has been successfully submitted, and you will receive a confirmation email from us.

Can I mail my submission to a physical address?
We only accept submissions via the Internet because it’s the future now.

When will I be notified of acceptance?
We will notify live show applicants, whether or not they have been accepted to the festival. All applicants will be notified via email between February 25th through February 28th that their submission status has been finalized.

When will the full schedule be announced to the public?
The full schedule will be announced in March, but tickets for some shows may go on sale before then. The schedule is subject to change at the sole discretion of the festival producers.

Are performers compensated?
We do not offer monetary compensation to performers (with the exception of headlining performers). We do not offer airfare or transportation to performers. We will offer reduced rates on local hotels and try to give performing groups as many perks as we can (show passes, food, parties, etc).

How many sets do I get?
Each stand up and acts in the other live genres that run 7 minutes or under get at least two sets. There is a chance that you will get more than two sets, but each stand up performer will be given at least two sets. Longer acts may only receive one slot, but may receive a second or possibly third slot at the sole discretion of the festival producers.

What is Force Majeure?

Force Majeure refers to acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond its reasonable control including (without limitation) acts of God, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, disease, or quarantine restrictions compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulations or directions, accident, fire, flood, storm or period required to remove such a force majeure event. WICF shall have no liability to applicants under acceptance acceptance if we are prevented from, or delayed in holding a festival by any of the above circumstances. By submitting an application, each applicant agrees to said terms.