Short Film Marketing Strategy

A diverse and fully planned marketing strategy is just as necessary for any short film as it is for a full length production. In fact, you may need to work harder to market your short film than you would a full length movie simply because you must prove the appeal to an audience that tends to be more interested in full length cinema. Knowing what goes into a short film marketing strategy can help you make the most out of your short film production. We’re showing you the top tips on marketing your short film to reach a wider audience.

Preparation is Key to Short Film Success

How can you best handle whatever comes your way? Be prepared! As you work to build a short film marketing strategy that will drive your film success, consider the preparation steps that you can take to ensure you are ready for whatever comes your way. Prepare for your short film by:

• Creating a dedicated website that you can use to promote the film. Not just full length features need a website! Short films that have a website provide users a home base that they can come to for updates on the film production, upcoming shows, merchandise and other promotions that are relative to your film.
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• As the release nears, issue a Press Release that addresses the short film and generates some buzz. There’s no better early way to engage the eyes of a wider audience than to release a Press Release that announces that key highlights of the film and tempts viewers to get in line to see it.
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• Build buzz on social networks. As you continue to work on the marketing of your short film, social media buzz is another great way to keep viewers interested even before the film itself is launched. Use social media to engage your audience with fun games and contests leading up to the film launch, share a countdown clock and get viewers talking about your short film as early in the production as possible.

Create an Electronic Press Kit

As the launch of your short film nears closer, work with your publicist to produce an electronic press kit or EPK. The EPK will be used to promote your short film to everyone on your email list, through social media, and to those that you connect with through your short film marketing efforts.

What’s included in the EPK? Consider the following:

• The title, length and country where the film originated from.
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• The names and key details of major cast members, crew, director, producer, screenwriter and lead actors.
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• A tagline and a short synopsis that catches the interest of the reader.
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• A detailed synopsis that provides insight into the film journey without giving away the entirety of the story or plot.
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• A list of any festivals or awards that have been accumulated since the launch of the short film.
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• Details on any press releases or media stories that have been produced since the film was released.
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• Information on funding and the sponsors that made production of the short film possible.
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• Copyright information and key details.
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• The website address and details on social media connection accounts.
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• Top photos of the film and headshots of the lead crew members included in the list of cast.
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• Short bios that showcase the key biographical information relative to the cast and crew.

Post the EPK on the short film website so that anyone interested in promoting your film or sharing interest can easily access the necessary documents to get involved.

Additional Steps in Short Film Marketing

Once you’ve prepared to market your short film and taken the steps to produce the press kit that can be used by anyone who assists in your marketing efforts, now you can begin working on additional steps that will market your short film to a wider and more interested audience. Use these steps to market your short film:

• Focus on delivering marketing materials to your target audience.
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• Coordinate a marketing team that can help you reach a wider audience.
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• Devise a social media marketing strategy that includes steps to engage and interact with potential viewers of your short film.
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• Capture set photos and video shots of scenes that can be used to boost your promotion once the film is released. Set your expectations high so as to capture the best interest and views.
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• Attend film festivals and promote your film to others in the industry.

Your short film marketing strategy can make a world of difference in the level of enthusiasm and interest that you generate for your production. For help marketing your short film, or to create a short film from scratch, call Beverly Boy Productions today.