Laugh Out Loud Network and Just For Laughs Present Eat My Shorts!, A Competition in Search of the Funniest Short Films

Laugh Out Loud, the comedy brand and multi-platform network created by Kevin Hart and global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), and Just For Laughs ComedyPROannounce the return of Laugh Out Loud Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts!, a competition in search of the funniest short films. Starting today, a diverse pool of filmmakers is invited to review submission guidelines posted on the Just For Laughs ComedyPRO website and then follow the instructions to submit their work by way of FilmFreeway. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2018. “Laugh Out Loud is committed to elevating the next generation of comedic filmmakers and their films,” says Amber Rasberry, Laugh Out Loud’s Executive Director of Production and Development. “We are excited to partner again with Just For Laughs, the world’s biggest comedy festival, to bring our audience fresh new content from emerging talent.” “Just For Laughs is proud to welcome back Laugh Out Loud for a second year of Eat My Shorts!,” says Paul Ronca, Just For Laugh’s Director of Industry & Special Events Programming and Strategic Partner Development. “The Just For Laughs Festival has long been a place for young creators to showcase their talents. We’re especially excited to introduce the next generation of diverse filmmakers to both audience and industry executives attending the festival.” Winners of last year’s inaugural competition, Marina Squerciati and Patrick Webb, were awarded a development deal for their film Special Skills: Episode 3 Hot Tea. This year, 10 films will be selected by a team of Just For Laughs and Laugh Out Loud programming experts to stream on the Laugh Out Loud website and app beginning Wednesday, June 27, 2018. Laugh Out Loud viewers can then vote for their favorites with the top five films screening at the Just For Laughs Festival. The winning filmmaker(s) will be announced at the screening on Thursday, July 26, 2018 and will receive a $7,000 USD development deal with Laugh Out Loud. SUBMISSION CRITERIA: Films must speak to a diverse, multicultural, millennial audience and should not exceed 15 minutes in length (including credits). All types of comedy genres will be accepted. Films not in English must include subtitles. Films that have played other festivals are eligible, but submitted films cannot be publicly available online (private links on YouTube or Vimeo are acceptable). For full submission details and guidelines visit: https://comedypro.hahaha.com/submissions/just-for-laughs-eat-my-shorts/. Laugh Out Loud launched in August 2017 as a multi-platform network and streaming video service offering original scripted and unscripted comedy series, stand-up specials, licensed programming and live broadcasts. Its app quickly rose to the top of the iTunes app charts with more than 500,000 downloads in the first 30 days. Laugh Out Loud’s social network has also experienced rapid growth, recently surpassing 1 million subscribers on YouTube and counting more than 4.7 million followers on Facebook. Just For Laughs ComedyPRO is the de facto event for the comedy industry, bringing together top talent and executives for four days of networking and deal-making. The event runs from July 25 – 28, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, part of the 36th annual Just for Laughs Festival, which takes place July 11 – 29, 2018 in Montreal, Canada. About Laugh Out Loud Network: Laugh Out Loud is a comedy brand and multi-platform network founded by the world’s top comedian Kevin Hart, in partnership with Lionsgate. Through his streaming video service Hart delivers his vision for the future of comedy: social, mobile, multicultural and seriously funny. From stand-up legends to globally-recognized digital influencers, Hart and LOL curate comedy’s boldest voices to produce original scripted and unscripted series, stand-up specials, live broadcasts and special events. Hart brings the groundbreaking social-first strategy that earned him 100 million+ followers to Laugh Out Loud, with one core mission: keep the world laughing.  Dope Comedy. Delivered Daily. Always On. Always Loud. Directly from Kevin Hart and his hand-picked crew of comedic rockstars. About Just For Laughs Group: Founded in 1983, the Just For Laughs Group concentrates on three major focal points: festivals (in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney); television production and stand-up specials, most notably Gags, seen in 135 countries and on 95 airlines; and live shows, including Canadian tour dates for Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Jimmy Carr, Danny Bhoy, and North American dates for John Cleese & Eric Idle and Family Guy Live! to name a few. The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, which celebrates its 36th edition in 2018, is the world’s largest and most prestigious comedy event, welcoming more than 2 million people each summer. The Group has offices in Montreal, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London. About Just For Laughs ComedyPRO: Just For Laughs ComedyPRO is a unique, annual global gathering of the biggest players in the comedy industry. The event takes place during the peak industry/media/performer dates of the Just For Laughs Festival. You simply cannot get any closer to the people who truly make comedy happen than at Just For Laughs ComedyPRO! Registrants for this one-of-a-kind, four-day industry experience gain exclusive access to some of the most sought-after events in all of comedy, including keynotes, panels, ‘In Conversation’ sessions, industry luncheons, cocktail parties, and exclusive live performances from comedy’s buzziest podcast hosts. # # #