Mandel group buys JFL festival

Canadian-born comic Howie Mandel has bought the Just For Laughs festival, with backing from U.S. talent agency ICM Partners and other investors. Financial terms were not available. The new owners said the company will continue normal operations, with the same leadership in place. “I consider it to be a cultural treasure not only for the Montreal and Quebec communities, but also for Canada,” Mandel said. JFL has production and distribution in more than 135 countries, with programming on more than 100 airlines. The 36th annual festival takes place in July in Montreal. The company was rocked last fall after several women came forward with allegations of sexual assault or harassment against its founder and majority stakeholder, Gilbert Rozon. Rozon has denied the allegations and they have not been proven in court.