How to Create a Press Kit for Your Film Festival Submission

A press kit can make or break your film festival submission. While programmers focus primarily on your film itself, a well-crafted press kit demonstrates professionalism, provides essential context, and makes their job easier. Films with polished press materials consistently stand out in the thousands of submissions festivals receive each year.

Whether you're submitting to Sundance, Tribeca, or a regional festival, here's exactly how to create a press kit that serves your film and impresses programmers.

What Is a Film Festival Press Kit?

A press kit (also called an EPK or Electronic Press Kit) is a collection of promotional materials that tells the story of your film beyond the screen. It includes everything a programmer, journalist, or potential distributor needs to understand, evaluate, and write about your project.

Think of it as your film's professional portfolio. It should answer every question someone might have about your project without requiring them to reach out and ask.

Essential Components of a Festival Press Kit

1. Synopsis Variations

Prepare three versions of your synopsis:

• Logline (1-2 sentences): The elevator pitch that captures your film's essence. Focus on protagonist, conflict, and stakes.
• Short synopsis (100 words): Ideal for festival catalogues and quick reference. Include beginning, middle, and end without spoilers.
• Long synopsis (300-500 words): A detailed narrative that reveals the full story, including the ending. Programmers need this to evaluate your film completely.

Be specific and avoid generic descriptions. "A woman confronts her past" tells us nothing. "A former cult member returns to rural Oregon to deprogram her teenage sister before the group's predicted apocalypse" gives us something to work with.

2. Director's Statement

This 200-400 word statement explains why you made this film and what you want audiences to take away. Address:

• What inspired the project
• Your personal connection to the material
• The creative approach and visual style
• The themes you're exploring

Avoid explaining what the film "means" or interpreting it for viewers. Instead, share the journey that led you to tell this particular story in this particular way.

3. Production Credits

List key cast and crew with their roles clearly identified. Include:

• Director, writer, producer(s)
• Director of photography, editor, composer
• Lead cast members
• Production company
• Country of production, language, and runtime
• Completion date

Format this information cleanly. Festivals like SXSW and Rotterdam have specific formatting requirements for their catalogues, so keep your credits adaptable.

4. Filmmaker Biographies

Write third-person bios for the director and key creative team members. Each bio should be 100-150 words and include:

• Previous notable work
• Festival selections or awards
• Relevant background or expertise
• Current projects (briefly)

Focus on accomplishments that relate to filmmaking. Your degree in marine biology only matters if you're making a documentary about ocean conservation.

5. High-Resolution Stills

Provide 8-15 production stills in high resolution (minimum 300 DPI, at least 1920 pixels wide). Include:

• 3-5 key dramatic scenes
• 2-3 shots featuring lead actors clearly
• 2-3 atmospheric or visually striking images
• 1-2 behind-the-scenes photos (optional but useful)

Avoid blurry, poorly lit, or overly dark images. Festivals use these stills in their marketing materials, so choose images that reproduce well in print and digital formats. Name files clearly: FilmTitle_Still01.jpg, not IMG_4582.jpg.

6. Poster and Key Art

Include your official poster in both print-ready (300 DPI) and web-optimised versions. If you don't have professional key art yet, commission it before submitting to major festivals. A compelling poster signals that you're serious about your film's future.

7. Trailer or Teaser

Include a link to your trailer (Vimeo with password protection works best). If your film isn't complete, a teaser or sizzle reel can work for submissions, though the final film matters most.

8. Technical Specifications

Programmers need to know:

• Aspect ratio
• Sound format (5.1, stereo)
• Shooting format (digital, 16mm, etc.)
• Available screening formats (DCP, ProRes, etc.)
• Subtitles available

Formatting and Delivery Best Practices

Create a PDF Press Kit

Compile your written materials into a single, well-designed PDF document. Keep it under 10 pages and under 15MB. Use consistent fonts, include your poster image, and ensure all text is selectable (not just images of text).

Organise Your Digital Files

Create a clearly labelled folder structure:

• /Press Kit PDF
• /Stills (individual high-res images)
• /Poster (print and web versions)
• /Logos
• /Behind the Scenes

Host these files on Google Drive, Dropbox, or your own website. Include the download link in every submission.

Build a Simple Website

A dedicated film website (even a single page) adds legitimacy. Include all press kit materials in downloadable form, embed your trailer, and provide clear contact information. Festivals like Venice and Cannes expect a professional web presence.

Common Press Kit Mistakes to Avoid

Hyperbolic language: Calling your film "groundbreaking" or "a masterpiece" undermines your credibility. Let the work speak for itself.

Inconsistent information: Ensure runtime, credits, and technical specs match across all materials and submission platforms.

Low-quality images: Never submit stills under 1MB or photos taken on phones during production.

Missing contact information: Include email, phone, and social media handles. Make it easy for programmers to reach you.

Overloading with reviews: Early in your festival run, you likely won't have reviews. That's fine. Don't pad your kit with quotes from friends or self-praise.

Tailoring Your Press Kit for Different Festivals

Research what each festival requests. Berlin's Berlinale requires specific image dimensions. Clermont-Ferrand has detailed requirements for short film submissions. Toronto International Film Festival prefers certain file formats.

Some festivals use platforms like FilmFreeway or Withoutabox, which have their own press kit fields. Fill these out completely, but always maintain your own standalone press kit for festivals that request direct submissions or for press inquiries.

When to Prepare Your Press Kit

Start assembling your press kit during post-production, not after your film is complete. Coordinate with your photographer to capture high-quality stills during production. Write your synopses and director's statement while the creative decisions are fresh in your mind.

Having materials ready early means you won't rush when submission deadlines approach. Festivals like AFI Fest, Telluride, and New York Film Festival have tight windows, and last-minute scrambling shows in the quality of your materials.

Moving Forward with Your Festival Strategy

A strong press kit is just one element of a successful festival submission. The more strategically you approach the festival circuit, the better your chances of reaching the right audiences. Tools like Festivilia help filmmakers identify festivals that align with their film's genre, themes, length, and career goals—ensuring your carefully crafted press kit lands in front of programmers most likely to champion your work.