Press Kit Essentials

By Lisa Trifone

A press kit is an essential part of any film’s production plan. Like a storyboard or line budget, it’s a behind-the-scenes necessity. And when done right, it can make all the difference in how the press, film festivals, theaters - and ultimately the audience - talk about your movie. It’s part promotional piece and part reference document.

But what IS a press kit? What does a good press kit include? When should you have one ready to go, and how often should you update it?

A film press puts function over fashion; it's a straightforward document that’s easy to read. There’s no need for a fancy, over-designed marketing piece here.

Create a press kit as soon as the film is wrapped and you start submitting to festivals. It’s a great resource to have on hand that includes all the information they’re going to request upon selection. Most of the kit should be static, but if you get a great award or awesome review, by all means, add it in!

Here are the basics for a solid film press kit, plus a few ways to level-up this crucial piece.

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