A press release is an important public relations tool that will help bring notice to your winning production. Below you will find two things:
- A Press Release Template – for you to copy and then customize.
- Press Release TIPS for where and how to send your Press Release
This template is for your personal use so that you can fill it out independently and send to the media outlets of your choice in your local area and beyond. Just add the information about your production to the draft press release below, select the media outlets you want to send it to – then send it to them directly.
This is simply a template – feel free to modify it to suit your needs. Please do not return to us – this is for your personal use.
Simply copy and paste from this page into your word processing document. Please note the formatting of a standard press release as outlined below.
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PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
(Your Name)
(Email)
(Website)
(Telephone)
(Company or Individual) Wins Award in IndieFEST Film Awards
(City, State, Date) – (Winner’s name), of (company or organization), has won a prestigious (Best of Show, Outstanding Achievement, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit, Award of Recognition) from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The award was given for (winner’s name) exciting (type of production), (title of production), which (purpose of production). (Title of production) features exceptional (story line, names of actors, location, visuals, sound, etc.).
“(Quotes from producer, director, editor, and talent regarding their pleasure at receiving the award and what they were trying to achieve with the production.”)
The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about the IndieFEST and a list of recent winners can be found at www.theindiefest.com.
In winning an IndieFEST Film Award, (company or organization) joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including 2021 Academy Award winner “If Anything Happens I Love You” by Laura Dern, Will McCormack and Michael Govier, Oscar-nominee Liam Neeson as the narrator of Love Thy Nature, A Path Appears Documentary featuring Oscar-winner George Clooney and Blake Lively, Radical Grace executive produced by Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, a searing expose Davids and Goliath by Peabody winner Leon Lee, and Touched with Fire starring Katie Holmes. Rick Prickett, who chairs The IndieFEST Film Awards, had this to say about the latest winners, “The IndieFEST is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The IndieFEST helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of The IndieFEST Film Awards is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.”
For more information call (name and phone number, Twitter handle) or visit (company or organization)’s website at (website address – press page).
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PRESS RELEASE TIPS
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SECTION 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESS / PUBLIC RELATIONS
Getting Noticed: One of the most challenging aspects of being a filmmaker is promoting your work. Being noticed for your award winning film can be a challenge, even for veteran filmmakers. Public relations using press releases is a great tool to get noticed and to build the credibility of your film.
Credibility: Films / Filmmakers that have been covered in various publications lend an air of prestige and authority. Using a press release to garner this coverage is a very important step to generate this buzz.
Benefits of Press Releases: Public Relations and Press Releases have some major benefits.
- Creates credibility
- It’s cost effective
- It often has more credibility since an outside, “objective” source has deemed your activity to be newsworthy
SECTION 2: PREPARING YOUR RELEASE
Easy Way: Use the Fill-in-the-Blanks press release that we have put together for you. You can use it “as is” – or customize it to your specific needs. (LINK TO FILL IN THE BLANKS HERE)
Be Brief: Brevity is not only allowed, it is encouraged and rewarded. It shows you respect the time of busy editors & reporters. If they require more information, they will ask – or you can direct them to your website for additional information.
PROOF! If your writing is full of errors…it’s going to get tossed…and you will lose a potentially valuable opportunity for your work… Reread your press release and proof it for errors.
Headlines Are Important! Make sure your headline and the first paragraph, in particular, communicate that your content is newsworthy. Journalists and bloggers are busy and you need to stand out. The headline is the best way to do that.
Be Creative: Make your writing stand out with an awesome headline. It is the best way to get their attention. Rule of thumb is 70 – 80 characters.
Take this imaginary example of a government announcing $1 billion to eradicate homelessness:
Bad: [Organization name] welcomes the government’s decision to increase funding for homeless services
Good: 100,000 people ready for a good night’s sleep
Make it easy: Attach or link to any additional media such as photos or background information. We recommend a dedicated page on your website. If they have to dig…they will give up and move on to another story option.
Put a PRESS page on your website. The journalist / blogger can go there for further information. Additionally, you can include high quality photos there that they can download.
Twitter: We all know social media continues to expand…journalists are no exception. If you don’t already have one create and include a Twitter handle in your press release as more online journalists are using Twitter to tell stories as well.
Contact Info: Include contact details for how to reach you. If you are away from the office often, which most of you are, be sure to put your cell phone number so they can reach you right away.
SECTION 3: DETERMINING WHERE TO SEND IT
Focus: First determine if you are going to send it to outlets and specifically focus on your project / film, or if you are going to focus on yourself as the filmmaker. For some publications such as your community newspaper, the story that local citizens have completed a great project may be more significant than the film itself – but of course any published story will still generate buzz for your project.
Relevant: Make sure you are sending it on to relevant outlets. In other words, make sure that you specifically target publications and bloggers that apply to your kind of film – or a special interest if that is what your film is about. As mentioned above – the exception to this is a publication that serves your local area – and would like to highlight the achievements of the citizens within that community.
The Right People: Determine the correct person: Identify editors & reporters who would be most interested in what you have to say.
Key Player: Choose key players in your field including noted bloggers and industry leaders. Do a little research to figure out the best ones for you.
The Right Format: Determine how they want releases. Do they want to receive news releases either by fax, mail or e-mail? Send your release the way that the publication wants it sent.
Submission Guidelines: Once you have your list put together of who to send it to – research the outlet’s submission guidelines. Some like it by mail, some by email, some have an online platform. Make sure that you are sending it to them in their preferred format.
Determine Timing. Your release may need to coincide with a screening of your film so you can determine a date from that. If your release is solely to announce your award, then the specific date is less important. A general rule is to submit the release early in the week and early in the day to give them flexibility in running the story. You never know if it is a slow news week for them.
Position vs Name: Don’t worry too much about finding out which exact individual you should send your release. Get the person’s title right, and that should be sufficient. Examples are given in Chapter 4. ???
SECTION 4: THE PROCESS OF SENDING IT
Who to address it to: If you don’t have a name at a particular place it is ok to use the following:
- Daily newspaper in your community: Contact the City Editor or the editor in charge of the section that relates to your content.
- Weekly newspaper: Editor
- Magazine: Editor or Managing Editor
- Radio stations: News Director or PSA Director (if sending a public service announcement)
- TV stations: News Director
One at a time: Only send your release to one person per news outlet.
Send it early in the day: Some PR professionals recommend choosing an atypical time, such as 9:08 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. Doing this will keep your release from getting lost at the top of the hour.
Do It! Submit your press release according to the required guidelines that you determined in Chapter 3.
No attachments!: If sending by email – type or paste your content directly into the body of an e-mailed press release. Many journalists delete e-mails with attachments because they take too much time to download and may contain viruses. Remember to send them to your website for photos and additional details.
Submission Platforms: Some outlets may prefer that you upload the press release directly to their website over a secure submission platform. You can determine this during your research process.
SECTION 5: HELPFUL TIPS – GET NOTICED
Be Prompt: Remember, it is best to send the release to the different media outlets first thing in the morning.
Be Distinct: Put your company logo or film poster in the upper right hand corner of the document if you are sending by mail. It helps to get it noticed.
Be Pretty: To really make an impression print your release on a distinctive type of paper that is either heavier, colorful or both. Make sure that it is professional and not tacky.
Be Zen: After you submit your releases… then you might have to wait to hear back from them. Many journalists and bloggers are very busy and you may not hear back from them right away. It also may be a busy news day when you submit – so that might slow the process down even further.
Be persistent: If you don’t hear back within a few days – give them a friendly reminder about your story and why they should be interested.
VOILA! You may not hit gold every time but with creatively written pieces catered to the publication you will get noticed…and your story will be run. Our best advice is to be persistent, be patient and stay positive. You have put a great deal of time and energy, not to mention money, into your project. Use that same determination and commitment when it comes to creating buzz for your film…it will pay off and they’ll be eternally grateful that you helped them fill a news slot.