Message from your festival co-directors!
Josh Mayo and Krystal Merrells set the stage for this year's submission process.
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About OIF 2025
Whether you are from Ottawa, near or far in Canada, or applying from another country, we would love to learn and collaborate with you!
Ottawa loves a good improv festival
Ottawa has a super awesome improv community. We have many active teams and multiple local monthly shows. We support each other and love to learn and collaborate.
OIF is hosted by The Improv Embassy. Last year’s festival had two nights of sold-out shows and a day full of workshops. We’re ready for more as we grow the festival this year hosting local and out-of-town acts, jams, workshops and more!
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OIF 2025 aims to inspire
The goal for this year‘s Ottawa Improv Festival is to inspire improvisers, audiences and creatives to continue growing their performance, production, and improv-related work!
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​We see the festival as a celebration of fun and unique performances. It’s also like a summit! OIF is a place to share ideas and learn from one another.​​
Goal for OIF 2025
​Showcase different approaches to improv that inspire our community to create.
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Bring together a diversity of quality local and out-of-town acts
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Give improvisers from different backgrounds a space to collaborate
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Inspire the Ottawa improv community (experienced improvisers, beginners, and those who are curious to try) to learn new things and feel encouraged to pursue their creative ideas
What we’re looking for
If you’re applying to perform at the festival, we are looking for acts that bring something unique to the stage or push the boundaries of existing formats.
We’re also looking for a diversity of backgrounds and representation on stage. We value equity, inclusion, and accessibility. We are doing our best to showcase quality performances from many different perspectives.
We’d also like to see some polish! We want to see sets that you have worked on. Acts that you have put thought into, practiced, and even had a chance to refine.
Finally, collaboration. We’re hoping you’ll be open to sharing your talents and making new connections within our community.
Venue and accessibility
The festival is being held at Arts Court on 2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario. The main shows will take place in the Theatre, which seats about 130 people. The adjoining Studio Black Box will also be open for gathering and grabbing drinks and snacks.
Visitor info and detailed accessibility features can be found on their website HERE.