About

The 2026 Cookies & Comedy Film Festival was a blast! On Saturday, March 14, 2026, we packed the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh with over 40 comedy films from around the world, live comedy performances, and of course - cookies!

We're turning Pittsburgh into a comedy powerhouse! Our festival featured top-notch comedy short films from our own yinzers and funny folks from all over the globe. Here's what went dahn:

What to Expect at Our Festival

Live Performance

Standup comedy and improvised music woven into each film block

A comedian performing with a microphone on stage during the 2026 festival

Filmmaker Q&A

Engaging Q&A sessions with filmmakers

Filmmakers answering audience questions on stage at the 2026 festival

Cookie Table

Indulging in homemade cookies throughout the event

A festivalgoer savoring a cookie during the 2026 festival

Festival Community

Connect with fellow film enthusiasts

Members of the Hallow's Eve team posing with cookies in the theater lobby

Upcoming Timeline

Film Submissions

June 1 - December 31, 2026

Schedule Announcement

January 14, 2027

Festival Day

March 2027 (Day TBD)

A full audience gathered inside the Harris Theater during the 2026 festival

What Our Filmmakers Say

"Films were screened in a wonderful venue in the middle of Pittsburgh with a lively and large crowd. The communication was among the best I have experienced, and Q&As followed every block with plenty of time for networking."

"From start to finish, the communication with this festival was top-notch. Scott provided personalized care and attention in his outreach, and I'm very proud that a festival of this quality has become established in Pittsburgh."

Our Venue

Harris Theater

Our festival takes place at the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District, a beloved art-house cinema operated by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The historic marquee and Liberty Avenue entrance give the day a real sense of occasion before audiences head inside for films, Q&As, live comedy, and cookies.

The Harris Theater marquee outside the Cookies & Comedy Film Festival

Film Submission

Submission Guidelines:

Genre: Films must be primarily comedy.
Completion Date: Films should have been completed after January 1, 2026.
Language: Non-English films must include English subtitles.
Length: Films should not exceed 20 minutes.

AI & Synthetic Media Policy (2027)

The Cookies & Comedy Film Festival recognizes that AI tools are increasingly part of modern filmmaking workflows. Rather than attempting to regulate every possible use, the festival is making a focused, pragmatic choice about character and performance.

The following are not permitted:

AI-generated characters, including foreground or background characters. This includes AI-generated faces, bodies, voices, or performances intended to function as characters in the film.
Synthetic replicas of real people (voice or likeness) without explicit consent from the individual depicted (and legal guardians where applicable).

This policy prioritizes human performance and authorship, and is intentionally aligned with evolving labor protections for performers and creators.

As labor organizations such as SAG-AFTRA establish clearer standards, consent models, and compensation frameworks for AI-generated character usage, the festival will revisit this policy accordingly.

Contact Us

Get in Touch

Have questions about our film festival? Want to volunteer or sponsor? We'd love to hear from you!

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