Q: How long should my video submission be?
A: Five minutes. Your best five minutes. We don’t need to see the person/host introducing you. Cut to you and your jokes. Speaking of “cut,'“ don’t edit your set. Send us an unedited video of your best five minute set. If your video is over five minutes, please understand that we will only watch up to five minutes. Did we mention it should be five minutes?

Q: Can I submit more than one video?
A: No. Our screeners won’t have time to watch more than one five minute video for each applicant; they haven’t even had time to see episode six of The Bear: Season Two. Remember to send us your best five minutes (see above regarding the importance of five minutes).

Q: What if I don’t have a good video of me doing five minutes of stand-up?
A: Send us your favorite five minutes of Richard Pryor. No, please don’t do that. Instead, take some time to film yourself at any show or open mic. We’re accepting submissions until December 31, 2025.

Q: How should I film my submission tape?
A: Rent out a comedy club, hire extras who are great at laughing, hire Roger Deakins to film your video and Spielberg to direct. Just kidding - use your phone; just make sure we can hear you.

Q: Can I just email someone at The Crow my submission, or can I drop off my video?
A: Please no. Use the form on the website. After all, it’s 2025 and we don’t have the necessary equipment to watch your VHS tape.

Q: Is there a minimum age to submit?
A: We accept submissions from comics of all ages, as long as they’re funny and submitting original material. Please don’t send a video of your seven-year-old telling the banana knock knock joke. If a minor is accepted, they must be accompanied by an adult guardian for the tenure of the festival.

Q: Are you looking for specific genders, ages, or types?
A: We are looking for all who welcome all. As we say in our Mission Statement, we spotlight underrepresented voices and unique perspectives in our programming, but we know any gender, age, or type can represent an underrepresented voice or unique perspective.

Q: Does my material need to be clean?
A: Fuck no. However, please keep in mind that some of our industry members watching and judging the festival are often looking for TV appropriate comedians.

Q: Can my representation submit for me?
A: Duh, yes! Make them earn their percentage. But they still need to use the online form and you must pay the same rate as everyone else who is applying.

Q: When will I know if I’m accepted?
A: We will contact everyone who submitted in February, 2026, whether or not they were accepted.

Q: Will you notify me if I’m not accepted?
A: See above, and stop skipping questions.

Q: Is my submission fee refunded if I’m not accepted?
A: Um… no. That’s not how festivals work, actually. Think of it this way: your submission fee pays for our screeners to watch and judge your video. Plus you are supporting a nonprofit 501c3 that is specifically looking to help the comedy community at large.

Q: Can you waive my fee?
A: In order to be fair to all applicants, we cannot waive anyone’s fees. Besides, nothing in life is free, especially when that life involves the potential to perform stand-up comedy in front of top industry executives, agents, managers and bookers. We suggest applying early since the submission fees get higher closer to the submission deadline.

Q: When do I perform?
A: Every accepted comic will perform two five minute sets, and storytellers will perform 7 minute stories, on two different days, during the evening between March 24 and March 28, 2026.

Q: How many sets do I get?
A: I said stop skipping questions (see above).

Q: When will the full schedule be announced to the public?
A: Calm down, we just opened submissions, but the plan is to announce the lineup and schedule by March 1, 2026.

Q: What’s The Crow?
A: The Crow, established in 2022, is one of the newest comedy clubs in the Los Angeles area, featured in the LA Times here, here, here, and here. In our short time on the scene we’ve developed a reputation as a club focused on diversity, inclusion and underrepresented voices, while bringing in top names in comedy like  Rosie O’Donnell, Ray Romano, Tom Papa, Whitney Cummings, Ron Funches, The Sklar Brothers, Finesse Mitchell, Alice Wutterlund, Aparna Nancherla, Brent Weinbach, Fahim Anwar, Robin Tran, Joey Bragg, Dean Delray, Jenny Zigrino, Kira Soltanovich, Adam Conover, Jamie Kennedy, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jen Kober, Dana Gould, and more. We’re located in the historic Bergamot Station Arts Center, just off the 10 freeway and at the Bergamot Station Metro stop. The Crow is a safe space for all to laugh, learn, and evolve as humans through comedy, writing and the performing arts. We welcome ALL AGES, ABILITIES, GENDERS, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ humans performing, studying, and/or watching. We believe the art of comedy provides a platform for expression, healing, and social progress. CROW stands for Comedy Reflects Our World, and we achieve this by partnering with our local community to share our passion for the art and using it for good, levity and social progress. We strive for constant growth and evolution. Our duty is to create an environment that allows development for all. Our priority is building and nurturing relationships between seasoned creatives and novice locals. Our passion is helping foster professional growth in the comedy world. Plus, we have free parking.

Q: What else is on your brag sheet, BCF?
A: Lots of amazing press has been written about this festival. We are honored to have the support from The Los Angeles Times when they wrote this piece, this one, and this one as well. And also our amazing local papers from Santa Monica Daily Press and The Argonaut always give us some love! Additionally, we partner the City of Santa Monica and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism to help spread the good word around town!

Q: How do I submit?
A: Fill out this form.