If you’re a woman and you hear adjectives like short and funny, immediately you think two things, that Kimmie Dee is hilarious and so is a man with a sock in his pants. You’d be right to laugh at both.  A man show at a job site sans tool, almost nothing funnier or sadder.  But add to that hit list of short and funny, sexy and monetarily endowed and you’ve just described the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival’s closing night festivities.  Downtown LA’s Elevate Lounge hosted and LACSFF gave out as many prizes as laughs.  Short, funny, sexy and money? WTF? That’s the perfect combination!  I’ll take three, please!

The LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival knocked it out of the park for it’s third consecutive year with an insane line-up of hilarious professionals.  Free advice was dispensed, success and failure stories were disclosed and (this part I really didn’t care for) panelists gave hope to up and coming filmmakers and other assorted funnies like yours truly. I loathe hope.  From the panels to the partays not to mention, the Niagra flow of adult-like beverages, this is one festival NEVER TO BE MISSED! 

Unlike most red carpets, this one was lined with personality! The presenters were fabulous aswas the talent they awarded with prizes like $25,000 freakin’ run-away-now CA$H, a $15,000 post-production package and a music package, also up for grabs.  WTF? For Comedy?  Who does that? The LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, that’s who!

On hand to present were Carlos Alazraqui, the funny man from Reno 911, stand up comic and soon to be dad.  Wendy McLendon-Coveykicked ass as the third recipient of the festival’s most prestigious honor THE COMMIE AWARD, which recognizes comedic genius.  Now starring in the new hit Bridesmaid, she was anything but.  Beautiful, funny and certainly deserving to be the center of attention, this Reno 911 alum reminds us that we actually can have and do it all. 

Speaking of comedic genius, the list of talent continued as presenters Aisha Tyler (Archer), Judy Tenuta (comic), Laraine Newman (SNL), Lynne Stewart (Pee Wee’s Playhouse), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Rex Lee (Entourage), Maurice LaMarche (Futurama) and David Higgins (Malcolm in the Middle) gave words of wisdom and awards to filmmakers, making the experience more exciting than winning.  Ok, not really, but it was still @#$%@&!Cool!

And the winners are!

The Funny or Die Best-of-Fest Grand Prize- Bear Force One, directed by Andy Mogren
Two eager, naive guys pitch their idea for the movie 'Bear Force One' to a Hollywood executive. While leaving Alaskan bear country, bears take over the President's airplane, and now it's up to the Commander in Chief, a secret service guard, and a flight attendant to regain control at 30,000 feet in this satire of airplane/hijacking films.

Atom.com-Best Comedy Short Film (thirty minutes or less) The Interview, directed by Michelle Steffes.  The last man on earth tries to get a job from the second-to-last man on earth.

Atom.comBest Comedy Animated Short -Dates on Tape, directed by Chris Lagarce

Kevin Spacey, a man of many talents, is single and ready to mingle. Watch as he tells you a little about his best...attributes.

Atomic Wedgie Best Comedy ‘Shortie’ Short (five minutes or less) With or Without U2, directed by Isabel Fay and Lee York.  One man's obsession with the face that haunts him. He sees her (quite literally)everywhere, but how will he react when he finally sees the real her?

Elevate Best Student Short -Karl Mulberry, directed by Lorne Hiltser. Set against a world of roller blades, water balloons, and accordions,KARL MULBERRY is a comedy about a conflicted sixteen year old boy who needs afather, but doesn't want to lose his mother.

State Tax Credit Exchange Audience Choice Award- dik,directed by Christopher Stollery. A concerned father of a six year oldtakes it the wrong way.

So the moral of thestory is, get off your ass and SHOW US YOUR SHORTS!  You’ve got an entire year toget it together and make a short in return for being completely bathed in alcohol, have chicks and guys dig you, enjoy unsavory soirees, party like arock star, suck up and meet incredible industry peeps, laugh your ass off and who knows, you may even win!