Indulge us some self-promotion but we’re excited to share news! Short of the Week is teaming up with LOL Network, the digital platform from Kevin Hart’s global media company, Hartbeat, to bring hours of comedy shorts to their popular AVOD and FAST channels.

The collaboration kicks off with Shorties, a co-curated series of top comedies drawn from our 15+ years of programming. These films will be available on-demand and via linear ad-supported channels on platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and LOL’s YouTube. The first collection, Scary AF—a 30-minute horror-comedy block—dropped last night on YouTube and will make it out to additional platforms just in time for spooky season.

Scary AF is the first shorts collection. Still image from Daniel Foster’s Don’t Die First

With its prominent placements on myriad streaming services and over 5 million YouTube subscribers, LOL Network’s reach makes it a perfect partner to help us share these shorts we love with new audiences. And like us, they’re committed to spotlighting fresh creative talent and underrepresented voices. Participating filmmakers will be compensated for their work via artist-friendly, non-exclusive deals, making this partnership even more rewarding.

“We are excited to partner with Short of the Week to bring their wide lineup of captivating short films to our diverse and locked-in audience on LOL Network,” says Jeff Clanagan, Hartbeat’s President & Chief Distribution Officer. “As a leader in the comedy space, Hartbeat is committed to bringing laughter to audiences everywhere, and this collaboration marks an exciting addition to showcase some fresh talent in the world of comedic storytelling.”

We’ve always believed in the internet’s power to connect talented filmmakers with audiences and opportunities, and this partnership reflects that mission. “Since day one, we’ve been committed to elevating new voices through short film,” says Jason Sondhi, Short of the Week Co-Founder. “LOL’s platform gives us a new way to expand that mission, helping filmmakers reach new audiences while ensuring they’re compensated for their work.”

This collaboration with Hartbeat is just our latest initiative to promote emerging film talent. Previously we partnered with Netflix to explore shorts-to-feature adaptations, and with the Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar and his company, Sugar23. Recently, we’ve been building the Shortverse platform, which connects over 100,000 filmmakers, festivals, and industry members, and expanding our annual Short Awards, celebrating the best short films of the year.

More Shorties collections will roll out over the coming months, so stay tuned! And if you’re a Short of the Week alum with a comedy that fits the vibe, let us know—we’d love to hear from you.