Indie Film PR: How To Get Media Exposure For Your Film Release

Many of the independent films our team has successfully represented often had limited budgets. So how can you get the media to notice you without spending thousands each month on PR?

quick steps

Tell your story. Whether your movie is a documentary, sci-fi, romance, thriller, or action, your movie synopsis should capture the attention and ears of the media.

Find your hook! The hook can be why you made the movie, the challenges you faced, or maybe the main character or the producers have a great backstory. If it’s a documentary, why would this movie change minds or enlighten the audience? If it is fiction, who inspired it or if it is based on a real ‘event’. The twist is the story behind your film.

Each of the people involved in the making of your film has a story and an angle that you can follow in the media.

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Create an electronic press kit

(EPK) Your electronic press kit includes photos and videos, as well as short interviews in which you are its main cast and crew.

While you’re shooting, you want to do off-set interviews with the cast, director, and producers that can be edited out for the EPK.

Ask them to answer the main questions the media might ask about the film.

If your film includes special effects, interviews with the artists, or if you shoot in a unique location, highlight that in the footage. These are future ‘selling’ points for media presentations and film festivals. You can also include a short trailer in the EPK.

Important: Make sure the music used in the EPK is authorized for streaming. You don’t want to have to go back and ask the media not to use the soundtrack.

Your movie synopsis: you can choose the duration.

The long synopsis

This will include a single page that you must double space. You can tell the story in about ¾ of the page. The latter can include any anecdotes about the making of your film and why it will stand out from other films.

the median synopsis

Again, it should be ¾ of a page long where you summarize the movie, but keep it concise and to the point. The last lines can be about the making of the film and why your film is unique.

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brief synopsis

The short synopsis format should not exceed half the page. Again, ¾ is your concise story about the film, highlighting points that will capture interest, with closing lines about the production and why the film will stand out.

Cast and crew biographies

His EPK includes biographies of all the key players involved in the film, from the producers, writers, composer, director, cinematographer, actors, and production designer. Include previous work experience, for example, any known movies the team has been a part of in the past. Anything unique that gets media attention is valuable.

advertising frames

Your EPK needs great photos, include the following:
producer on set
Director with the cast
Fabulous photos of movie scenes (have the photographer on shoot days for important scenes being shot)
Highlight the equipment used in the making of the film.
Any key players must be included
Remember, that perfect image can be used on t-shirts, hats, posters, and other promotional materials.

FAQ section

For your promotion, it is vital that you provide submissions from film festivals, journalists and studios that may be considering distributing your film that develop a frequently asked questions and answers area in the EPK. Include anything that explains the movie, your mission, your audience, and the ultimate success of the movie.

Usually there are around 10 questions. Often the media interviewing you will follow this message, so all interviewed parties will be prepared.
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quick tips

Media Objectives

All filmmakers want national attention on their film, but you may have to build for that, step by step. Start with local press, movie blogs, YouTube videos, and social media. Make your own buzz, the media will call you!

film festivals

If you submit your film and it is accepted, try to get a press list of who will be attending. Start following key journalists on social media, then email your EPK and offer interviews with your key actors, directors and producers at the festival. Give them a unique twist that catches their eye. Always be courteous, even if the reporter declines an initial interview with you. If the film is causing a sensation at the festival, get back in touch with the journalist, you might get the interview.

Commercial Sale

If your movie gets a commercial sale, Netflix, HBO, DVD sales, then you want to reach out to entertainment movie critics/writers. Email or mail the film reviewer and follow up on a review. Get as many friends as you can to watch the movie and post reviews online. Reach out to local and national journalists as well as bloggers, both big and small blogs, as long as the audience is in your niche.

Find a ‘twist’ in your movie that catches the eye. Independent films represented by our agency found success with spins that landed filmmakers on national talk and entertainment shows, as well as national print media. So it’s possible for a smaller independent film to get national press!