Creative freedom, but with dice.
We believe creative freedom is the most important component of a quality short film. That's why we make contestants roll dice to decide what kind of comedy they're making.
Practice your roll without the regret.
The genres
Tap any poster for the rules of that genre.
Slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor in silly or absurd situations. Falls, collisions and mishaps portrayed in a highly exaggerated way. Relies on visual gags, practical jokes and physical stunts.
See: The Three Stooges, Home Alone, Anchorman, The Hangover.
Parody a genre, not a filmSpoof
A comedic imitation that exaggerates or satirizes a genre, work or style by mimicking its key elements and conventions.
See: Tropic Thunder, Austin Powers, The Other Guys.
Spoofs must be original. Poke fun at superhero movies in general. Parody a specific one (The Avengers, Justice League) and you are disqualified.
Taboo, morbid, still funnyDark
Serious, taboo or morbid subjects explored with irony, satire and wit. Walks the line between humor and tragedy.
See: Dr. Strangelove, Fargo, BoJack Horseman.
Hate or malice toward any group or individual is disqualified. Unsure? Ask us.
No dialogue. Sound FX & music OKSilent
Humor conveyed through visual gags, physical comedy and exaggerated gestures. No spoken dialogue. Ambient, bodily and general sound effects are permitted. Music too.
See: The Artist, Mr. Bean, Pixar shorts.
Logic is optionalAbsurdist
Subverts narrative and logic with situations, characters and dialogue that defy rationality. Surreal scenarios, non-sequiturs, circular stories, a disregard for structure.
See: Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Mighty Boosh, Rick and Morty, The Good Place, The Lobster.
A bonus genre that changes annuallyJoker
The wild card changes every year by community vote. For 2026 it's Meta: self-aware comedy that knows it's comedy. Breaking the fourth wall, commenting on its own tropes, jokes about the act of joking.
See: Deadpool, Arrested Development, Andy Kaufman, Bo Burnham.
The punchline die
Not satisfied with your genre? Roll the punchline die. Whatever you roll cancels the original die. This could completely change your outcome in the following ways.