Our Mission

We're turning Pittsburgh into a comedy powerhouse! Our festival is packed with top-notch comedy short films from our own yinzers and funny folks from all over the globe. Expect more laughs than you can shake a pierogi at! Here's what's comin' dahn the road:

Hilarious Screenings: A curated selection of the funniest films from around the world and from our talented local filmmakers.
Live Comedy Acts: Film blocks hosted by Pittsburgh's top standup comics.
Insightful Q&As: Interactive sessions with filmmakers.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals, fellow filmmakers, and comedy enthusiasts.
Cookies: Enjoy a Pittsburgh-style cookie table at the award ceremony.

Come for the laughs! Stay for the cookies!

The Event

Next Festival - Spring 2026

Mark your calendars! We're planning the next Cookies & Comedy Film Festival for Saturday, March 14, 2026. We'll be curating another fantastic selection of the funniest films from around the world, along with live comedy performances and of course - cookies!

Film Submissions

June 1 - December 31, 2025

Schedule Announcement

January 14, 2026

Festival Weekend

Saturday, March 14, 2026

The festival will be held at the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District.

Audience enjoying comedy films at our festival

What to Expect at Our Festival

Live comedy in each film block

Engaging Q&A sessions with filmmakers

Our famous cookie table

Connect with fellow film enthusiasts

What Our Filmmakers Say

Happy audience at Cookies & Comedy Film Festival

"This was such a fun time full of truly lovely people and good films! Scott was very communicative and friendly, and the event went off without a hitch. Thanks so much for including us!"

— Katherine Coleman, 2025 Filmmaker

"We hope to be back! Just a great experience to have as a filmmaker. The communication, venue, and crowds were great."

— Pat Battistini, 2025 Filmmaker

Join Us for 2026!

Check out our 2025 festival archive to see what you missed!

Our New Venue

We're excited to announce that our 2026 festival will be hosted at the Harris Theater, with more spacious accommmodations including 190+ seats!

Harris Theater

809 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District

The Harris Theater is one of the most active arts facilities in the region, showing art films nearly every day of the year. Named after John P. Harris, co-founder of the Nickelodeon (the first theater dedicated solely to motion pictures), it features contemporary, foreign, and classic films.

Parking: Street parking is available, along with several nearby garages including Theater Square Garage and Smithfield Liberty Garage.

Public Transit: The Theater is accessible via multiple bus routes and is a short walk from the Steel Plaza T Station.

Awards

2026 Awards Categories

In our upcoming festival, we'll be celebrating the best in comedy filmmaking across multiple categories. Winners will receive custom certificates, festival laurels, recognition on IMDB, and of course - cookies!

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Best Short Film NEW!$500 Cash Prize

For outstanding comedy shorts between 5-20 minutes

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Best Super Short

For hilarious micro-films under 5 minutes

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Best Foreign Film

For excellent non-US comedy entries

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Best Comedic Acting

For standout comedic performances

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Best Local Film

For the best Pittsburgh-area submissions

Musical performance at Cookies & Comedy Film Festival

Darin DiNapoli entertaining the audience with his hilarious improvised cookie-themed singing during the 2025 awards ceremony

Film Submission

Filmmakers around the world, submit your comedy films to the Cookies and Comedy Film Festival!

Coming Soon!

Submission Guidelines:

Genre: Films must be primarily comedy.
Completion Date: Films should have been completed after January 1, 2023.
Language: Non-English films must include English subtitles.
Length: Films should not exceed 20 minutes.

Submission Requirements:

Film Synopsis (50 words max)
Country of Origin
Languages Spoken
Genres (if any in addition to comedy)
Length of Film
Prior Festival Screenings
Honors and Awards
Filmmaker Contact Information
Director's Bio (100 words max, optional)
Personal Statement (100 words max, optional)

Key Dates:

Submissions Open: June 1, 2025
Submission Deadline: December 31, 2025
Notification Date: January 14, 2026
Festival Date: March 14, 2026

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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Email Us

info@cookiesfilmfest.com

Social Media

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