Vancouver's Comedy Festival, JFL NorthWest, In Association with SiriusXM, Returns For Ten Glorious Days of Laughter

Vancouver's comedy festival, JFL NorthWest, presented in association with SiriusXM, returns for a second year of mid-winter laughs from Thursday, February 16 to Saturday, February 25, 2017 at multiple venues across Vancouver. Announced today, the 2017 JFL NorthWest lineup includes:

Sarah Silverman - Saturday, February 25 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | 7:00pm

Two-time Emmy Award winner Sarah Silverman is one of the most versatile talents in entertainment, with credits including that of actress, creator, writer, executive producer, comedian, and author. She can be seen on The Book of Henry, The Lonely Island's Popstar: Never Stop Stopping and the Golden Globe-nominated Showtime series Masters of Sex, and can be heard on the Emmy-nominated Fox animated series Bob's Burgers. On the comedy stage, Silverman continues to cement her status as a force in stand-up. Her critically acclaimed HBO stand-up special, Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles, earned her a 2014 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special" and a 2015 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Comedy Album". Her book - a memoir titled "The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee" - was a New York Times Bestseller. Other awards include an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series" for her portrayal of a fictionalized version of herself in her Comedy Central series, The Sarah Silverman Program, an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics" for her musical collaboration with Matt Damon, and a Webby Award for "Best Actress" for her online video "The Great Schlep".

Trevor Noah - Thursday, February 23 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | 7:00pm

Returning after a wildly successful performance at JFL NorthWest 2016, Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa. He is the host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, formerly hosted by Jon Stewart. Noah recently debuted his one-hour stand-up special, Trevor Noah: Lost in Translation, on Comedy Central. Filmed at The Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C., Trevor Noah: Lost in Translation brings Noah's unique worldview and global analysis of American culture to the forefront.

Chris D'Elia - Friday, February 24 | Vogue Theatre | 7:00pm

Chris D'Elia is quickly becoming one of the most sought after comedians and actors in the comedy world. He recently starred as 'Danny' on the NBC comedy series Undateable and continues to cement his status on stage as a force in stand-up comedy, performing to sold-out crowds in the U.S. and Canada. His first one-hour Comedy Central special, White Male Black Comic, was released in 2013 and his latest special, Incorrigible, debuted on Netflix in April 2015.

Iliza - Friday, February 17 | Vogue Theatre | 7:00pm

Iliza is the only female and youngest comedian to hold the title of NBC's Last Comic Standing. Her one-hour debut comedy special, War Paint, reached #1 on the iTunes charts and was named one of its Top 10 Albums of 2013. In early 2015, Iliza's follow-up, Freezing Hot, a Netflix Original Comedy Special, sealed her title as one of the hottest touring acts in America. Her television credits include multiple appearances on NBC's Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, Comedy Central, Hollywood Game Night, Chelsea Lately, and hosting 230 episodes of the CBS syndicated show Excused as well as the TBS show Separation Anxiety. Iliza's digital series, Forever 31, which is currently streaming on ABC.com and Hulu, has been picked up for a second season and her newest stand-up special for Netflix, Confirmed Kills, premiered in September 2016. In 2017, Weinstein Books will publish her first book, "Girl Logic".

Tom Segura - Saturday, February 25 | Vogue Theatre | 7:00pm

Tom Segura is a comedian originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. His comedy specials Mostly Stories (2016) and Completely Normal (2014) are currently streaming on Netflix. His television credits include Conan, Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, Happy Endings, The Late Late Show, Comedy Central Presents: Tom Segura, Mash Up, and How to be a Grown Up. His podcast, "Your Mom's House", which he co-hosts with his wife and comedian Christina Pazsitzky, was a finalist for Best Comedy Podcast at the Stitcher Awards. Segura's "No Teeth No Entry" tour kicks off in January 2017.

Game Grumps Live! - Friday, February 17 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | 8:00pm

Come hang out with Arin and Danny for a live episode of Game Grumps! The two will be playing games, making jokes, and having a blast in front of a live audience; ending the night with a super sensual Q&A session.

Piff the Magic Dragon - Saturday, February 18 | Vogue Theatre | 7:00pm

The breakout star from season 10 of NBC's America's Got Talent was without question Piff the Magic Dragon. When it comes to Piff, think Larry David in a dragon suit performing jaw-dropping magic tricks. With over 12 million YouTube hits to his name, Piff has performed to hundreds of thousands of fans in iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Shakespeare's Globe, the O2 in London, and the Sydney Opera House. His one-man show has had five record-breaking runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, two sell-out seasons at Soho Theatre in London's West End, and a national tour of the UK and Australia. Recently, Piff has completed a six-month residency at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in their flagship show "Vegas Nocturne".

My Favorite Murder - Saturday, February 18 | Vogue Theatre | 10:00pm

Ready yourself for a murder adventure hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, two lifelong fans of true crime stories. Each podcast episode, the girls tell each other their favorite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans. Check your anxiety at the door, 'cause Karen and Georgia are dying to discuss death.

Brian Posehn - Thursday, February 16 to Saturday, February 18 | The Comedy Mix (various times)

Comedian, actor, and writer Brian Posehn always has a full comedy plate. In addition to performing stand-up at the best Comedy Club and rock venues in the country, he is a co-writer for Marvel Comics' Deadpool and hosts the popular podcast, "Nerd Poker", on the Earwolf Network. 2013 marked the release of his first hour-long comedy special, The Fartist, on Netflix as well as the release of a book he co-wrote with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross entitled "Hollywood Said No". Posehn's film and television credits include Judd Apatow's Funny People, The Five-Year Engagement, Lloyd the Conqueror, The Big Bang Theory, Guys with Kids, and Anger Management. He also starred in and wrote episodes for Comedy Central's popular sitcom, The Sarah Silverman Program, and toured as one of the original members of The Comedians of Comedy. Brian Posehn is currently producing a Comedy Metal album with Scott Ian of Anthrax.

SiriusXM's Top Comic Showcase - Thursday, February 23 | The Comedy Mix | 8:30pm

SiriusXM's Top Comic scours the country each year, searching for the funniest comedians in Canada so you don't have to (you should though, it's actually pretty fun). Check out the 2016 winner, Toronto's Chris Robinson, and runner-up Sophie Buddle along with Vancouver's Darcy Michael and Kevin Banner. We're also throwing in Canada Laughs' (SiriusXM, channel 168) host and veteran comedian Ben Miner, and he's no slouch.

The Alternative Show Hosted by Andy Kindler - February 24 & 25 | Rio Theatre | 10:30pm

The quintessential comic's comic, Andy Kindler (Bob's Burgers, Tosh. O) hosts the popular "Alternative Show" for two nights of alternative comedy anarchy. Off-the-wall and totally unpredictable, audiences won't know what to expect. The only guarantee is that Andy will bring the house down with an all-star lineup of alt-comedy favourites for one of the Festival's wildest events. Kindler is currently the host of Hulu's Stand-up Series, Coming to the Stage, and is known for his yearly, infamous State of the Industry Address at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Fortune Feimster - Friday, February 17 | Biltmore Cabaret | 7:00pm

Fortune Feimster made her national TV debut in 2010 on NBC's Last Comic Standing, where she finished as a semi-finalist. That same year, she was selected to perform in the New Faces Showcase at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. Now, Fortune is a full-time writer and roundtable regular on Chelsea Lately, and is a cast member on the comedy series The Mindy Project.

Jon Dore - Friday, February 24 & Saturday, February 25 | The Comedy Mix (various times)

A recipient of four Canadian Comedy Awards, comedian, host, and actor Jon Dore is renowned for his offbeat humour. He is a favourite on the Comedy Club and festival circuit in Canada and the U.S., and has enjoyed sold-out runs at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and Toronto, at comedy festivals in Halifax, Vancouver, Portland, and Washington, as well as at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee. Dore was the first featured comedian on Conan and has appeared on Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer and Kroll Show. He recently starred in the critically acclaimed ABC TV series, How to Live with Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life), and hosts HBO Canada's Funny as Hell.

Nate Bargatze - Saturday, February 18 | Biltmore Cabaret | 7:00pm

Nate Bargatze is a stand-up comedian following in the entertainment business footsteps of his dad - a former clown turned world-class magician. He is known for his special on Comedy Central Presents and has made multiple appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and is a recurring guest on @midnight. Bargatze's first album, Yelled at by a Clown, made the Billboard Top Ten Comedy Chart, and his second album, Full Time Magic, was released in May 2015 along with his Comedy Central Special. That same year, Bargatze was named one of Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" and given the #1 spot on Vulture's "50 Comedians You Should Know."

Aparna Nancherla - Saturday, February 25 | Biltmore Cabaret | 7:00pm

Aparna Nancherla is a comedian of the stand-up variety, but can often be seen sitting. She recently worked as a writer and performer for Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC. She can also be seen on the current season of Inside Amy Schumer on Comedy Central and on the upcoming season of Judd Apatow's Love on Netflix.

K. Trevor Wilson - Thursday, February 16 to Saturday, February 18 | Yuk Yuk's (various times)

K. Trevor Wilson, the self-proclaimed 'Man Mountain of Comedy' has spent over twenty years in entertainment. You might recognize him as Squirrely Dan from the Crave TV series Letterkenny. His debut comedy album, Sexcop Firepenis, was released in late 2014. It was the most downloaded album on the iTunes Canadian Comedy Charts and was named Best Taped Live Performance at the Canadian Comedy Awards. Additional awards include the Just For Laughs 2012 Irwin Barker Homegrown Award and a Canadian Comedy Award for Canada's Best Male Stand-up.

Barry Crimmins - Thursday, February 23 | Biltmore Cabaret | 7:00pm

Barry Crimmins is the subject of Bobcat Goldthwait's Sundance-debuted, critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Call Me Lucky, now streaming on Netflix. He has made appearances on WTF with Marc Maron, The Greg Fitzsimmons Show, The Dana Gould Hour, and Reply All. Crimmins is noted as a political satirist and a political and social activist, and was presented with both the Peace Leadership Award and the Courage of Conscience Award. He has written for television and radio, and was a contributor to the Boston Phoenix for twenty years. 2016 saw the release of his book of essays, "Never Shake Hands With a War Criminal", and his comedy album, Barry Crimmins: Whatever Threatens You, which was produced and directed by Louis C.K.

Stop Podcasting Yourself - Thursday, February 23 | Biltmore Cabaret | 9:30pm

Hosted by Vancouver's Graham Clark and Dave Shumka, "Stop Podcasting Yourself" is a three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning podcast. The weekly free form comedy podcast, which debuted in 2008 and features a different guest each week, has fans around the world and is the only Canadian podcast featured on the Maximum Fun network.

Comedy Short Shorts - Saturday, February 18 | Rio Theatre | 4:30pm

JFL NorthWest, in association with SiriusXM, Vancouver International Film Festival and Creative BC, is proud to present the third annual Comedy Short Shorts film competition. Comedy Short Shorts shines a spotlight on the talented filmmakers and comedians of the Pacific Northwest. The best short format comedy films and sketches are selected to delight a live audience before a panel of five industry judges crowns the winner. First place will receive a prize of $1,000 and will have their short film screened at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Just For Laughs Showcase - February 21 at Biltmore Cabaret, 7pm | February 22 at Yuk Yuk's, 8pm

The Just For Laughs bigwigs are in town and they're looking for the next big thing. Check out the best of the best of local comedians as they try to impress the ones with the wigs.

JFL NorthWest is proud to welcome its partners SiriusXM, The Government of British Columbia, Tourism Vancouver, Sleeman Breweries, Hopping Mad Cider, DVBIA, and Creative BC to its 2017 events.

"The Province is pleased to invest in the JFL NorthWest Comedy Festival through our Tourism Events Program," says Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, and Minister Responsible for Labour. "We're making these investments to grow our reputation as a premier destination for cultural tourism. The launch of this lineup features world-class comedians in venues throughout the city and is sure to attract even more visitors to our province."

For more information and full ticketing details for JFL NorthWest 2017, please visit www.JFLNorthWest.com

JFL NorthWest can be found on the following platforms:

Website: www.JFLNorthWest.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/JFLNorthWest (#JFLNW)

Instagram: www.instagram.com/JFLNorthWest

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JFLNorthWest