About

Courtney Karwal is a writer, editor and director who specializes in comedy. Years of performing stand up and sketch led her to an understanding about what works and doesn’t comedically, both on and off screen. She loves finding the funny in the mundane.

Courtney’s short film LIPSTICK CITY won Best Comedy Short at the New York Shorts Film Fest and Best Director at the Portland Comedy Film Festival. “Chicken,” a short she wrote featuring magician/mindfreak Criss Angel premiered at LA’s Dances with Films Festival. A few years back her pilot DOUG & DEVI won at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal and was featured at the New York Television Fest. She was once named a Comic to Watch at the Riot LA Comedy Festival and has been featured at several other comedy festivals.

This past year, Courtney directed Margot’s Off the Market, a short film that was selected by Vail Film Festival. She also wrote, directed, and produced her take on a NIKE campaign to gain attention in the commercial world.

Awards:
2024 Best Comedy short Nominee, film Haus Berlin 2021 Portland comedy film Festival, best director
2020 New York Shorts film festival, best Comedy
2017 riot la comic to watch
2017 just for laughs stand up and pitch winner
2017 new york television fest feature

Official Selection:
2023 + 2021 Vail film festival
2023 film incation los angeles
2023 dc international shorts festival
2021 Virginia Film Festival 
2021 Atlanta comedy film festival
2021 austin comedy film festival
2021 rhode island international film festival
2020 new york shorts festival
2019 bumbershoot seattle
2017 out of bounds comedy festival
2017 sf sketchfest