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

2026 Festival - March 14

Mark your calendars! The 2026 Cookies & Comedy Film Festival is Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Harris Theater in downtown Pittsburgh. We've curated another fantastic selection of the funniest films from around the world, along with live comedy performances and of course - cookies!

Tickets will be available soon at the Harris Theater website. Subscribe to our email list or Facebook page (icons in the upper right) to be notified!

2026 Schedule

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Click a film title for more info

Cookies & Coffee Mixer

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Mingle with fellow film lovers, grab first dibs on our famous cookies, and enjoy some coffee while everyone checks in.

Matty Malloy

That's Absurd

Hosted by Matty Malloy

12:00PM - 2:20PM

Comedy Kickoff with Matty Malloy
Long Island Life Hacks
Crush(ed)
Stakeout Siblings
The Last Bird on Christmas
Tech Rehearsal
The Spectral Hour
11:59
Choice
Intermission with Matty Malloy
MAGNET BRAIN
Back In Business
Am I The Asshole
The Precarious Perils of Poor Patricia Packard
Toasty Thighs
SQUONK
Filmmaker Q&A session
Mary Warwick

The Struggle is Real

Hosted by Mary Warwick

2:40PM - 5:00PM

Comedy Kickoff with Mary Warwick
The Film That Never Begins
Great Googly
Time Travelers' Graveyard
Bomb Vylan
Cookies
Welcome To ESL
Complementary Colors
Intermission with Mary Warwick
Middle Age Inappropriate
Devilocalypto: A Devilish Deposition
Gold Hearts
In a Few Words
Procrastination
RIGHT ON!
Filmmaker Q&A session
Mike Zydel

Nothing More Than Feelings

Hosted by Mike Zydel

6:20PM - 8:40PM

Comedy Kickoff with Mike Zydel
Mom Walkers
The Hat Method
What To-Do
Gaslighting Dad
The Queen of Pop
The Stool With Pants And Shoes On
Knights on a Quest for Love
Intermission with Mike Zydel
Clowning Around
Time Out
Te Seguire a la Oscuridad
The Postman
Hallow's Eve
Don't Forget You Are A Boy
Filmmaker Q&A session

Awards Ceremony and Networking

9:00PM

Join us as we honor this year's standouts, enjoy additional entertainment, and unveil our special oreshki cookies!

Film Submissions

June 1 - December 31, 2025

Schedule Announcement

January 14, 2026

Festival Day

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

2026 Featured Comedians

Mike Zydel

Mike Zydel

Matty Malloy

Matty Malloy

Mary Warwick

Mary Warwick

Live comedy performances between film blocks

Q&A with filmmakers

Engaging Q&A sessions with filmmakers

Cookie table at the festival

Our famous cookie table

Attendees networking

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!

Tickets will be available soon at the Harris Theater website. Subscribe to our email list or Facebook page (icons in the upper right) to be notified!

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!

Map of Harris Theater location

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.

This year's festival falls on St. Patrick's Day Parade day!

The parade runs through downtown that morning, so getting there takes a little planning. We've put together everything you need to know—hotels, light rail, rideshare, and parking options.

Travel & Parking Guide

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!

🏆

Best Short Film NEW!$500 Cash Prize

For outstanding comedy shorts between 5-20 minutes

🏆

Best Super Short

For hilarious micro-films under 5 minutes

🏆

Best Foreign Film

For excellent non-US comedy entries

🏆

Best Comedic Acting

For standout comedic performances

🏆

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

Submissions Closed

The submission period for the 2026 festival has ended. Thank you to all filmmakers who submitted!

Submissions closed

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.

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!

✉️

Email Us

info@cookiesfilmfest.com

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