DCP for short films is often assumed to be “easy” because the runtime is shorter. In practice, shorts still fail for the same reasons as features: subtitle readability, audio mapping, framing, and version control.
DCP (Digital Cinema Package) is the cinema standard, designed for reliable playback on theatre servers. The goal is simple: a short film that screens cleanly, on time, without surprises.
Best practice #1: lock the master before DCP
Short films often get last-minute tweaks. That’s the #1 cause of rework. Lock:
- picture
- sound
- final export
Best practice #2: subtitles SRT workflow
If subtitles are required:
- deliver final .SRT
- provide language and version name
Service scope: - team ingests SRT + runs technical checks
Not included: - subtitle text proofreading/rewrite
Best practice #3: cinema-standard audio delivery
For theatre experience, 5.1 is the cinema-standard. If your master is stereo, the team will advise the cleanest route to cinema-ready delivery.
Best practice #4: QC that prevents festival issues
QC (Quality Control) focuses on:
- playback stability
- audio consistency
- subtitle legibility (if used)
- framing / safe-area risks
Best practice #5: delivery with one final version
Avoid multiple “final” exports. One final package reduces wrong-version risk.
Copy/paste checklist
- Runtime:
- Deadline:
- Master link:
- Subtitles SRT? (yes/no + language):
- 5.1 available? (yes/no):
Link hints (Rank Math)
- Internal link to “DCP for Film Festivals.”
- External link to a reputable “Digital Cinema Package” definition page.
Need a short film DCP that screens smoothly?
Send runtime + deadline + master link. The team replies with timeline and quote.