The second Macao International Comedy Festival convened top comedy creators for two major forums and a series of events to discuss the challenges of making comedy and its broader cultural significance.

Comedians, organizers and guests pose at the closing forum of the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

A closing forum was held on April 13 in Hengqin, Guangdong province that borders Macao, marking the festival's high point. Events for the comedy festival were held in both Hengqin and Macao.

Han Mei, CEO of Mahua Fun Age and a co-organizer of the festival, said the event's five days brought not only laughter but also a deeper connection across cultures. "Comedy doesn't just make us laugh — it makes us reflect, resonate and even brings us to tears," she said. "This reminds us how comedy can transcend cultural and geographic boundaries, and how talent drives the sustainable growth of the cultural industry."

Han said the festival will continue providing an open, accessible platform rich in resources to support more comedians, especially young women, in pursuing creative ambitions and innovation.

Laughter as remedy

The closing forum, themed "Laughter as the Remedy," featured Chinese comedy stars Shen Teng and Ma Li, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Hollywood screenwriter Peter Chiarelli in a discussion on the challenges of comedy creation.

Aamir Khan, Shen Teng, Ma Li and Peter Chiarelli attend the closing forum of the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

"Creating comedy is a serious undertaking, and the process is immensely challenging," Shen said. "Comedy has such a long history that audiences have seen almost everything. The impact of short-form videos on long-form content has also been tremendous. Nowadays, attempting to innovate story structures or develop comedic characters that feel original to viewers is as difficult as scaling the heavens."

"Comedy needs to build on the foundation of tragedy — making people not only relate and cry, but also laugh," Ma said. Her longtime partner Shen agreed, adding that quality comedy requires an emotional core and skills from other genres. "To perform comedy well, you have to master different dramatic styles first, which makes the challenge even greater," he said.

Khan said comedy requires something unique: precise timing. "Half a second earlier or later, and the punchline may not be effective. Timing is of the essence," he said. "That's what differentiates comedy from other genres."

The Indian actor also emphasized that even a big laugh should be cut if it doesn't serve the film's overall narrative. "You have to keep in mind the overall impact of what you're trying to say," he added.

Chiarelli said comedy draws him in because it allows him to mask earnestness with humor while tackling serious topics. He enjoys guiding audiences to new perspectives, often by subtly drawing them into engagement. He cited his script for the film "Crazy Rich Asians" as an example of making an unfamiliar subject compelling to viewers.

During the forum, Shen also emphasized the urgent need to nurture young comedic talent and praised the festival as a valuable platform for emerging comedians.

"Developing the next generation of comedians is both meaningful and pressing," he said. "True comedy requires innate talent — you must be born with a sense of humor to excel as a comedic actor. This alone disqualifies many performers. Some may have acting talent, but that doesn't necessarily make them good comedians."

The power of women in comedy

At the "Her Way" forum in Macao on April 12, Ma and Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau discussed women's roles in comedy.

Ma Li and Andrew Lau participate in the "Her Way" forum at the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Macao, April 12, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

Ma said she remains passionate about comedy but is keenly aware of the limited number of women in the field. "I once wanted to tear off the label of 'comedic actress' — it felt so difficult because comedy rarely earns proper recognition, especially for women," she said. She explained that female comedians often feel isolated, frequently have their ideas rejected and face a host of unspoken requirements and expectations.

"I consider myself lucky to have finally met directors and teams who truly understand me and my artistic vision. Many have given up waiting. But I hope to see more women join and strengthen our ranks in comedic acting," she said. She also expressed interest in taking on new challenges, including roles as cunning or complex characters beyond comedy.

Ma and Lau recently collaborated on a new film, "The Dumpling Queen," a biopic about Wan Chai Pier dumpling brand founder Zang Jianhe, which is set for release on April 30. Lau said the story resonated with him because it reminded him of his mother. He thanked Ma for leading and supporting the project and helping to share a compelling Chinese story.

Ma said she did not initially pursue comedy and once felt constrained and labeled as a comedic actress. Over time, though, her view changed.

"During countless movie promotions, I've met audience members who tearfully told me, 'You should know — during our darkest, most difficult moments, your comedy helped us through and gave us the strength to stand back up.' Over time, I realized that a good story, a compelling character and quality comedy truly have the power to heal," she said. "From that moment, I felt a sense of mission. I must continue doing comedy because bringing joy to audiences gives me just as much happiness."