October 19 at 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Presented by BankProv and The Morning Buzz
You can thrill an audience with an explosive action sequence. You can draw a dramatic tear with a heartbreaking set of circumstances. However, it can be really friggin’ hard to make someone laugh! Join a handful of entertaining people for a spirited conversation about getting funny onto the screen during this highly-anticipated annual event.
Come prepared to listen, laugh and pose questions to our guests as they share stories and anecdotes with illustrious host Eliza Coupe.
HOST: ELIZA COUPE
Eliza Coupe is best known for her leading role on the ABC hit comedy series Happy Endings. She is next set for a splashy stint on Shondaland’s The Residence for Netflix opposite Uzo Aduba and can currently be seen recurring on the CBS drama So Help Me Todd. Previously, Eliza led the cast of the FOX series Pivoting alongside Ginnifer Goodwin and Maggie Q. Prior to that, she starred opposite Josh Hutcherson in Hulu’s Future Man and was the lead of USA’s legal comedy Benched. Eliza’s other credits include Steve Levitan’s Reboot, The Mindy Project, Hulu’s Casual, Scrubs from creator Bill Lawrence, Marlon Wayans’ Naked for Netflix, as well as What’s Your Number from director Mark Mylod. She grew up in Plymouth, NH and was a past participant on the festival’s comedy panel in 2023.
JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS
John Michael Higgins is a screen and voice actor, best known for his work in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, Bad Teacher, The Ugly Truth, Yes Man, Fred Claus, The Break-Up, Fun with Dick and Jane, and Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. He returns to NHFF for the third time, having participated on the comedy panel in 2015 and 2016 as well as sitting down on-stage for a special one-on-one interview featuring clips from his favorite roles the latter year.
ADAM PALLY
Adam Pally, an actor and comedian from Livingston, New Jersey, gained fame as Max Blum on ABC’s Happy Endings, earning a Critics’ Choice nomination in 2013. He has since appeared in The Mindy Project, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and the live-action Knuckles series. Pally stars in Mr. Throwback, alongside Stephen Curry, and has worked on various films and series, including Fubar and Champaign ILL. A member of Upright Citizens Brigade, he continues to create and perform comedy.
JARED SANDLER
Jared Sandler is an internationally touring comedian, performing stand up in comedy clubs, theaters and arenas. He is a regular at Comic Strip Live and has been seen opening for Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Nick Swardson. Additionally, Sandler has extensive experience hosting at venues such as The Laugh Factory in Las Vegas and Hollywood, as well as Eastville Comedy Club in New York City. He has had roles in more than 20 feature films including The Week Of, Sandy Wexler, Grown Ups 2, and most recently Home Team. Sandler’s also appeared in five television shows including Kevin Can Wait.