Technical Specifications for Selection Screeners

• H.264 Upload
• DCP

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 can take some time. 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 last and important step, expressly approve the finished file to enter the selection screenings. Your film will only be released to the Berlinale selection boards 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. Please do not, for example, use any file names like “myfilm! @&%$§ *().mp4”.
• Please submit an English subtitled version for the selection screenings (except if the film’s original version is English).

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.

The Berlinale only accepts content that is fully DCI/SMPTE compliant.

It is strongly recommended to commission a professional service provider to create the DCP. Please do not send untested DCP's that have not been approved by a DCP mastering facility.

If you wish to send a DCP for the selection screenings please contact the Film Office () in advance.

Data Media

If you wish to submit a DCP on a physical data carrier please note that the hard drive should contain a standard “MBR” partition table. This is meant to specifically exclude “GPT”, “BSD”, and other partition table types. The MBR partition table shall contain one and only one partition record. The single partition record shall be the first Primary partition record. The partition identifier shall be 0x83, indicating a Linux native partition. The distribution media partition shall be formatted in either the EXT2 or the EXT3 format. When the file system is formatted, the inode size shall be set to 128 bytes. EXT3 is preferred.

KDMs / Encryption

The Berlinale prefers unencrypted content. If your DCP is encrypted, KDMs need to be uploaded to the keyserver of the Berlinale. Please contact the Film Office (films@berlinale.de) if you intend to submit an encrypted DCP, and send the e-mail address which should receive the login credentials for the keyserver and the certificate for (D)KDM generation.

The selection screenings of the Berlinale take place in up to seven theatres and are programmed at short notice for the individual selection committees. As the selection screening dates cannot be exactly determined in advance, the Berlinale strongly recommends uploading DKDMs that are valid for the entire period of the selection (from the moment the DCP arrives in Berlin until the End of January 2021).

Should you prefer issuing single KDMs, please inform the Film Office in time. The Berlinale will provide you with the appropriate certificates for the selection screening venues as well as the period of validity of the KDMs via e-mail.

Selection screeners that are not submitted via digital file transfer should be sent to the following address: