Toronto’s Counterfeit Pictures has hired former Just for Laughs executive Zoe Rabnett as director of talent and comedy development.

Rabnett (pictured) begins the role effective immediately, and is responsible for attracting “top and exciting comics” for both scripted and unscripted projects at the prodco.

She most recently served as director of Canadian and international programming at Just for Laughs. Through her time with the Montreal company, Rabnett was responsible for finding and booking comedy talent from Canada and around the world for the Just for Laughs festival, tours and TV specials.

She first collaborated with Counterfeit Pictures as a producer on various Counterfeit and Just for Laughs coproductions including CTV Comedy’s Roast Battle Canada, CTV Comedy’s The Stand Up Show, CBC’s Comedy Night with Rick Mercer, and many stand-up specials for Bell Media’s Crave.

Shane Corkery, Counterfeit Pictures partner and executive producer, said in a statement that Barnett is a “fierce champion of Canadian comedy with a deep and abiding interest in promoting new talent,” adding that her knowledge and expertise are an “energizing addition to our company as we continue to build upon our mission to develop screen-based projects with innovative Canadian comic talent.”

Prior to Just for Laughs, Rabnett also held positions at Diamondfield Entertainment, where she produced and booked talent for The Rivoli’s ALTdot comedy lounge in Toronto for 10 years.

Counterfeit Pictures is currently in post-production on CTV’s new scripted comedy series Shelved, created by Playback’s 2021 showrunner of the year, Anthony Q. Farrell (Overlord and the Underwoods, The Office). The series is slated to premiere in 2023.

Image courtesy of Counterfeit Pictures