Building a Press Kit in One Afternoon

Think of it as a help-yourself folder. A press kit is simply everything a writer, host or programmer might need, gathered in one place so they never have to chase you. A shared folder or a simple web page works well; no fancy design is required.

Start with the essentials. Include the one-line logline, a short and a long synopsis, runtime, language, year, country, and the format details a screening team may ask for. Put these in a single text document, easy to copy from.

Add people. Provide a short bio and a clear, well-lit headshot for the director and any key crew. Spell every name the way each person wants it spelled, and list pronouns if people would like them included.

Include images with descriptions. Offer five to eight stills and a poster in high resolution, each with a short caption and a photo credit. Add alt text, a one-sentence description of what is in the image, to help accessible publishing.

Offer a trailer and a link. Share a trailer file or link, plus clear instructions on whether the full film may be embedded or reviewed.

Share the story behind the film. A half page on why you made it, how you worked with your cast, and one or two interesting challenges gives writers something to build an article around.

Add contact details. One email address, checked daily, and the best way to reach you during festival week. Review before sharing. Test every link, check every spelling, and keep a dated version so you always know which kit is current. Then update it whenever news arrives.