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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian stand-up comedian and content creator Jason Leong has been selected for the New Faces International Showcase at the Just For Laughs Montreal 2022 Comedy Festival (JFL).
JFL is the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event. It began in Montreal’s Saint-Denis Theatre in 1983, and has since entertained millions from around the world.
The New Faces showcase is the launching pad for the next generation of comedy superstars, with world-leading alumni including Amy Schumer and Kevin Hart. New Faces has traditionally been a platform predominantly for acts from the US and Canada.
This year the festival will launch its first New Faces International Showcase, featuring up-and-coming acts from across the globe.
There are only 10 positions available and the level of competition is fierce. Leong will be representing Malaysia on the international stage. He will be the third comedian from the country to do so, after Ronny Chieng and Phil Wang.
Leong is also the only comic from the Southeast Asian comedy scene in the lineup this year.
— Just For Laughs (@justforlaughs) July 25, 2022
Leong is a medical doctor-turned-comedian and one of Malaysia’s brightest standups. His 2020 Netflix special Hashtag Blessed was a global success and led to extensive international touring.
His latest live show Heaty completed a sold-out run at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022. It also sold out two shows at the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore.
Leong’s online standup clips have received tens of millions of views across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. He has appeared on Comedy Central’s Stand Up Asia and won the 2013 Hong Kong International Comedy Competition.
JFL is an iconic cultural event and the largest source of tourism for the second-most populous city in Canada. Over the years it has showcased the biggest names in the business, from Jerry Seinfeld, to Eddie Murphy, to Russell Peters.
Leong will be touring Jakarta, Australia, and London this year.
This year’s Just For Laughs Montreal festival, celebrating its 40th edition, is happening from July 13 to 31.
More information will be announced soon. – The Vibes, July 26, 2022
