Women in Comedy

On Saturday, May 2, DESIMO Productions, in collaboration with Nexus Performing Arts, hosted the inaugural Women in Comedy Showcase at The London West Hollywood.

The event celebrated bold, original work by women filmmakers and brought together a curated audience of 110 industry guests, including creatives, producers, agents, managers, editors, and studio representatives. The afternoon featured a red carpet arrival, a curated short film program, filmmaker introductions, an industry panel, and a networking mixer.

The screening lineup included Allergens, Beyond Failure, Period Hotline, Breadwinner, No More Excuses, The Blue Diamond, Gong Gong’s Bucket List, Nothing Bad Ever Happens, Gemini, and Giving Mom the Talk—all spotlighting original voices in comedy and women-led storytelling.

Guests in attendance represented companies including Netflix, Disney, Hulu, Sony, Beyond Media, Nexus Performing Arts, Good Good Films, Foxy Films, and Ser Nocturna, among others. Founded by actor and producer Desiree Staples, DESIMO Productions is a female-led independent production company committed to championing women-centered and underrepresented stories across film, television, and new media.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the showcase, Staples said the initiative was created to address the lack of support and financing available to comedic storytelling, especially when women and nonbinary creators are leading projects in above-the-line roles.

The Women in Comedy Showcase reflects DESIMO’s continued mission to amplify fresh, innovative voices and create meaningful opportunities for connection, mentorship, and collaboration in the entertainment industry.

ABOUT NEXUS: NEXUS is a Chicago-based talent coaching, advocacy and management company that produces and curates high caliber, live entertainment and media productions. NEXUS works exclusively with trained, professional artists and choreographers, ensuring every performance achieves both artistic excellence and operational professionalism.