If you’ve ever seen “DCP rejected” close to a deadline, you already know the pain: it’s rarely about creative quality—it’s technical. These DCP rejection reasons come up repeatedly in festival and cinema workflows, and most are preventable with clean inputs and proper QC.
DCP = Digital Cinema Package. It must ingest and play reliably on cinema servers, which is why standards and consistency matter.
DCP rejection reasons that show up most often
1) Package structure / ingest failure
If the server can’t ingest it cleanly, nothing else matters.
2) Audio mapping issues
- missing/weak center
- swapped channels
- inconsistent levels
For cinema-standard delivery, 5.1 is the reference.
3) Subtitle problems
- unreadable size/placement
- broken characters
- timing issues
Workflow note: the team can ingest your .SRT and run technical checks; subtitle text proofreading is not included.
4) Framing / safe area issues
Credits or subtitles can be cropped in theatre masking.
5) Version control problems
Multiple “final” files cause wrong-version screenings. One final package, clearly labeled, reduces risk.
The prevention checklist (simple but effective)
- lock the master (picture + audio)
- confirm runtime and deadline early
- deliver final subtitle SRT (if needed)
- use cinema-standard audio delivery
- run QC (Quality Control) checks before delivery
- deliver one final version
Copy/paste checklist for a fast review
- Runtime:
- Deadline:
- Master link:
- Subtitles SRT? (yes/no + language):
- 5.1 available? (yes/no):
Link hints (Rank Math)
- Internal link to your “DCP for Film Festivals” page/post.
- External link to a reputable DCP definition reference.
Want to prevent a rejection this week?
Send runtime + deadline + master link. The team replies with a timeline and quote.