Mach Improv LA Festival
The Mach Improv LA Festival (M.I.L.F.) is a free, two-day indie comedy festival held annually in Los Angeles, co-produced by Jess Svendsgaard and Nicole Villela of Mach Improv, a collective of approximately 25 performers with a weekly show at The Clubhouse. The festival features more than 100 comedy acts spanning improv, stand-up, sketch, characters, bit shows, and music across four stages at The Clubhouse, WGIS, and The Pack Theater, all located in the same strip mall on Vermont Avenue in East Hollywood. All shows are free, with the festival sustained entirely by donations.
History
The festival carries on the tradition of the defunct LA Indie Improv Festival, which ran for seven editions from roughly 2009 to 2015. Its first edition took place in 2024; the second edition in April 2025 drew over 260 submissions and featured 108 improv teams, nine sketch teams, and 41 stand-up or character performers. The third annual edition is scheduled for May 1-2, 2026.
Significance
LA Weekly described M.I.L.F. as "critical to the scene" and "really the only remaining event where performers from all these schools can get together," positioning it as a central gathering point for the Los Angeles indie comedy community.
Need current dates or submissions? This is a historical archive. Visit improvfestivals.org for live festival listings.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Mach Improv LA Festival. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/festivals/mach-improv-la-festival
The Improv Archive. "Mach Improv LA Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/festivals/mach-improv-la-festival.
The Improv Archive. "Mach Improv LA Festival." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/festivals/mach-improv-la-festival. Accessed September 21, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.