There is no place where people burst out laughing so frequently and in so many diverse ways at the same time as at the movies. Often, this diversity is overlooked. Laughter in cinemas signifies, usually, that something is funny. However, does aggressive, degrading, confirmatory, smart-alecky, embarrassed, irritated, cheerfully infectious or shocked laughter not sound through the darkness of the hall as well?

Laughter in cinema is not a monolithic block of stones, but it is a  gemstone, which shines and glows in many colors. Even if this iridescent colorfulness is hard to keep hold of and constantly shifting - the following twelve forms of laughter in cinema are particularly striking.

Laughter is Still the Best Medicine

April 7^th is World Health Day, and for everyone who doesn't know already: Laughter is healthy!

Scientists have confirmed that laughter is good for the heart. Blood flow increases when watching a funny scene or a comedy. On the contrary, sad films have the same effect on us as mental stress and can cause the blood vessels to constrict. Full and hearty laughter can prevent us from heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.

Laughing also strengthens our immune system as it reduces stress hormones and enhances the production of antibodies that protect us from illnesses. It improves our resistance against diseases as well! Amazingly, over one hundred muscles are working when we laugh. We breathe more deeply than usual and therefore supply our body with more oxygen. Shortly after, the whole body relaxes and is freed from stress and physical tension. Muscles can remain relaxed for up to 45 minutes after a long laugh. Endorphins, which increase our well-being, are discharged and the body is temporarily relieved from pain. Negative emotions like stress, fear or sadness disappear whilst laughing, after we feel much more relaxed and have more energy for everything that is important in life.

And if someone tries to give you a guilty conscience for spending the evening as a couch potato: tell them you are watching a comedy. Refer to the fact that it has the same positive effect on your heart as an aerobic exercise. The more and longer we laugh, the healthier and happier we feel.

The International Comedy Film Festival and its beneficial effects could be compared to the training for a marathon, therefore; is extremely healthy for you!

A child plays with a sprinkler in the garden. Next door an old man tends to his barbeque. The man catches fire and runs in slow motion to the sprinkler, towards the child, burning before his eyes. The child turns away in shock, and runs straight into the flag pole erected before the house. This is the very first scene from ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. In a laconic voice, the narrator introduces the story of the the Conway family, who have quite rightly earned the title of 'dysfunctional family of the decade'.

On the 7th of March in Hollywood, the 82nd Academy Awards traditionally acknowledged cinema achievement of the year. Notably, Kathryn Bigelow was the first female filmmaker ever to be awarded Best Director and her war film THE HURT LOCKER swept the board including Best Picture. Jeff Bridges was honoured with Best Actor for his role in the drama CRAZY HEART, whilst Sandra Bullock won Best Actress in THE BLIND SIDE, again an American drama. Ironically, the night before, Bullock was given the Worst Actress Golden Raspberry Award for her performance in the comedy ALL ABOUT STEVE.

And the Oscar goes to… not the comedies. Sadly, this habit has been going on for decades.

It seems like the Oscars whilst acknowledging drama, animation, screenplay and various other movie categories are wilfully ignoring comedy. Shockingly, it has been more than three decades since a comedy won the Academy Award for Best Picture; that is Woody Allen's ANNIE HALL in 1977.

For writers and filmmakers, it takes a lot to make a memorable comedy. The script has to be outstanding and most importantly, a first-rate comedy film requires talented actors who make the audience laugh. This is exceptionally difficult as not everyone has the same sense of humour.

At the start of cinematic history we can see that films started off as silent movie comics; therefore, establishing itself as a comic medium first. Bearing this in mind, it is about time the Oscars acknowledge comedy and comedy’s acting performances with a separate award, like they did when they created a special award for animated films.

Even though this year’s Oscar nominations have been expanded from five to ten films, there are no nominations for some of this year’s best loved comedies, such as (500) DAYS OF SUMMER or THE HANGOVER. Nominees like UP IN THE AIR, UP and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS certainly have comic elements, but still their focus is on important the dramatic scenes, not the humorous ones. This leaves the impressions that the Oscars clearly favour drama over comedy. The only glimpse of hope for comedy this year was the Coen Brother’s A SERIOUS MAN, nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, and the British film IN THE LOOP, a political satire by Armando Iannucci, nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, neither of which won.

Hopefully in the near future, the Academy will realize the potential and importance of comedies and reward it with its own category. Perhaps then we will finally see comedians/comic actors not only as hosts, but also as winners, alongside comedy filmmakers and writers.

Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly sing at the Oscars - 79th Annual Academy Awards®.