MONTREAL — Signing a TV deal is the ultimate dream for most stand-up comics, and 10 new talents will have the rare chance to bend the ears of top network execs at this summer’s Just for Laughs comedy festival, which, for the first time, comes with the promise of a deal at CBC.

The festival and independent film producer Pat Ferns are joining forces once again for the Just For Pitching event, which gives emerging comics a chance to sell their ideas to a panel of executives from around the world. Only 10 comedy ideas will be chosen for scrutiny by the panel, and the comics have only five minutes to make their pitches. Past panels have included executives from CBS, CBC, CTV, NBC, Comedy Central, Paramount Comedy Channel, The Comedy Network, and 20th Century Fox.

‘Comedy is hard, and pitching comedy is harder still. But it’s great spectator sport, and this year we are determined to have even more pitches turn into development deals and productions,’ said Ferns in a statement.

For the first time since the event began, a CBC development deal will be awarded to one Canadian finalist.

The public pitching event takes place at Montreal’s Hyatt Regency Hotel at 12 noon on July 19. Entrants must submit a project synopsis no longer than 750 words by June 29, moved back from the original deadline of June 22. Applications are available online at the Just for Laughs site, hahaha.com.

JFL, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, also includes the 11th edition of Comedia, the festival’s feature and short film showcase.