Join Us In Person*:
Carolines on Broadway
1626 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
*All guests will be required to show proof of vaccination to enter.
New York Comedy Festival is hosting the first ever Citi Presents: Comedy Included in collaboration with The Female Quotient. It’s this year’s notable destination to advance equality for women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented voices in comedy and entertainment, both on stage and behind the scenes. The conversations will feature the comedians, creatives, executives, and the emerging stories that kept us laughing through tough times.
Diverse creatives have contributed to some of the industry's most successful and innovative film and television content. It's time to celebrate their influence on the landscape and their role in changing the space for the better – whether through redefining representation on-stage or creating space behind the scenes for others to tell their own impactful stories unapologetically. In this panel, we'll hear how industry leaders are coming together to champion diverse comedy writers, entertainers, and creators through mentorship, advocacy, production, and exhibition.
Brands have always used humor in advertising to cut through, and create positive brand sentiment. During the pandemic, when empathy and relatability became crucial, the best brands used a daring, comedic approach with great success. In this panel, we'll explore the changing boundaries and best practices for brands using humor on platforms like TikTok, Twitter, television and out of home.
In this panel, we’ll explore the importance of taking action to support the trans and gender expansive community. We will look at culture’s effect on transforming the comedy industry and the role of identity for comedians, writers and viewers. Together we will hear from influential voices, learn how to be a better ally, and explore questions and propose action steps to advocate and activate.
Comedy hits on sensitive or taboo topics, often times without warning. In this discussion, we'll bring together leaders with differing viewpoints to guide us through the future of inclusive comedy. We'll consider the impact different jokes can have on an audience filled with unique lived experiences, and learn how to manage conflicting feelings of discomfort, offense, and even post-traumatic stress responses that may arise.
As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. In these challenging times, it’s no wonder many of us are turning to social media for a much-needed dose of humor. Accounts that make us smile in creative ways have gained enormous followings, with those run by diverse creators surging in popularity. In this discussion, we’ll explore how to amplify these new voices from all generations across platforms, giving audiences a chance to see work from different perspectives and enabling the industry an opportunity to showcase top talent.
Gus Constanetellis, TV Writer, Comedian
Jill Kargman, Actress, Writer, Creator, Star, Bravo's Odd Mom Out
Brittany Brave, Comedian, Producer and Founder, Cat Call
Mindie Kaplan, CEO and Founder, MaleRoom
Jasmine Ruiz, Comedian, Writer, Producer
Ronda Carnegie, Chief Innovation Officer, The Female Quotient
For many, "joking around" is something we do when we’re uncomfortable. Humor can be our way of deflecting an unwanted sexual advance, brushing off a racist comment, or coping with anything else that makes us cringe. But, when we wield humor intentionally, it can be so much than a defense mechanism — it can be a tool to take back power and foster empathy at work. In this panel, leaders will tell us all about how they incorporate humor into business and how we can all do it, too.
*Watch Live Stream: YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Andrew Essex, Founder & CEO, GoingConcern
Alex Arbuckle, Head, People and Culture, Too Good To Go
Michele Laven, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Diversity Officer, iHeartMedia
Vanetta Schoefield, Producer, Comedian, Founder & CEO, Funny Hunnyz, Founder, 1865 Comedy Festival
Ronda Carnegie, Chief Innovation Officer, The Female Quotient
As long as there have been women in comedy, there have been people saying that women aren't funny — an assumption tackled head-on by works like Hysterical, an FX documentary about women in comedy, debuted in March during the virtual SXSW. In this panel, we'll explore the unique experiences of women in the world of comedy. We’ll also unpack the value of “women in comedy” projects — and dissect what’s lost when comedians get asked, “What’s it like to be a woman in comedy?” over and over again.
After a challenging year for everyone, we could all use a good laugh. How have creative leaders in comedy inspired us with their courage and originality, and challenged us to transform a world desperately in need of positive change? How did comedians walk the fine line of taking a serious topic like the pandemic and make people laugh in the wake of it? Join us as we take a look back at some of the most powerful work made during the pandemic, and the remarkable impact comedians continue to make during difficult times.
Culture has changed during the pandemic. Even prior to Covid, it has steadily grown more aware. There are more issues around cancel culture. How do comedians reflect on jokes that they used to tell? Would they tell them now? Or, are comedians putting guardrails on their comedy when they go back out? In this panel, we’ll explore how comedy is evolving and the role comedians play in crafting culture.
The movement for equity and equality changed how we live, how we approach work and how we create comedy. Comedians, writers, and leaders in media and entertainment will discuss next steps for the industry, how comedians can create nuanced material that is socially conscious and how to use comedy to propel social causes forward.
Rebecca Damon, Executive Director, New York Local, Labor Policy and International Affairs, SAG-AFTRA
Teresa C. Younger, President and CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women
Erica Lancaster, CAA
Yesenia Bello, SVP, Diversity & Inclusion, iHeartMedia
Jonathan Graziano, Social Media Manager and Comedian
Ronda Carnegie, Chief Innovation Officer, The Female Quotient
