Technical Specifications for Selection Screeners

• H.264 Upload

The link for uploading your file will be provided on the confirmation page at the end of the application form for film submissions. Should you wish to upload your film at a later date, you can do so at any time via the link on the “My Account / My Film Entry” page which will be activated once you have successfully registered your film.

After the upload is completed, your data will be processed and encrypted. The processing usually takes 2–3 hours. In the days around the deadline for film submissions it might, however, take up to 24 hours. In the next step you can check your processed file, change the thumbnail preview picture or, if necessary, upload a new version of your selection screener. In a final step you have to release the file for the selection screenings.

In a last and important step, expressly approve the finished file to enter the selection screenings. Your film will only be released to the Berlinale selection committees with your final authorisation. Therefore please do not forget to click the “release” button.

Please note:

• Audio, video and subtitles must be contained in a single file and the file size should not exceed 10 GB.
• Please submit HD material in the mp4 format (H.264, AAC, Stereo).
• Please encode your video data with a constant bitrate and either 24, 25 or 30 progressive frames per second.
• The file name must not include any special characters or blank spaces. We recommend to use a short file name consisting of few characters only. Please use the Latin alphabet.
• Please submit an English subtitled version for the selection screenings (except if the film’s original version is English). The subtitles must be "burned in", srt files cannot be processed.

To ensure a high technical quality, the following settings for file compression are suggested:

• Size / aspect ratio: 1920 x 1080 px / 16:9 HD
• Video codec / bit rate: H.264 high profile / 10.000 Kbit/s
• Audio codec / bit rate: AAC / 320 Kbit/s, sampling rate 48 kHz

If your film is available in a different file format, a conversion to H.264 is recommended. Files can be converted by the open source (GPLv2) software “HandBrake”, for example, which is available for all major operating systems.

For questions concerning the file upload please contact the Film Office:

phone: +49 30 25920-833