International Festival of Clowns and Mimes “Comediada”

Comediada is an annual international festival of clowns and mimes held in the city of Odesa, Ukraine since 2011. It is managed and run by the comic troupe Maski Show and their theater House of Clowns. The festival held every April, around April Fools’ Day and Odesa’s famous Humorina festival.

Maski Show was founded in 1984 and became widely popular in the early 1990s thanks to its sketch comedy television show of the same name. The artistic director of the troupe is Ukrainian actor, director and musician George Deliev. In 2003, the comic troupe opened its own theater, House of Clowns, in Odesa. The inaugural edition of the Comediada festival took place in 2011.

Comediada is one of the most popular and anticipated cultural events in Odesa. It’s not surprising because Odesa has been considered Ukraine’s capital of humor and satire for almost half a century. The festival is supported by the Odesa City Council, the Odesa Oblast State Administration, and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

Over the years, Comediada has grown to become one of the leading comedy festivals in Eastern Europe. It features both up-and-coming and established artists from different countries including Austria, Armenia, Brazil, Germany, Israel, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Poland, the United States, France, Chile, Switzerland, Japan, and other countries.

Comediada is a competitive festival. Young artists and comedy troupes from Ukraine and other European countries compete to win one of the festival’s prizes awarded in several categories. They include Grand Prix, Laughnik Luxury (for best acting), Tricker Luxury (for best trick), Foolnik Luxury (for best screenplay and best directing), and Sweety Luxury (People’s Choice Award). The winners are selected by a professional jury that includes clowns, mimes, circus directors, producers and other artists from different countries.

The program of the festival includes a red carpet, an official press conference, galas (gala competition, gala performance and awards ceremony, winners’ gala concert), a carnival procession featuring festival participants held in partnership with the Humorina festival, industry events, and charity events such as Clown Doctor for disabled children and orphans. The main goal of the events is to promote clowning as an art form and to discover and promote young talents.

In 2021, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.