Tips to Get Press to Cover Your Screening

Starting with the press release in your Movie Captains’ Toolkit is great, but to get press attention it’s important to also talk about who you are, why you’re hosting a screening, and how you think this film will impact your community. We recommend drafting a short email with the above points, and of course your screening link, with a quick note that this film can only be shown if you get enough community interest. Also, don’t forget a phone number or email address where you can be reached!

Once your email is drafted, build your email list:

• Start with who you know- do you have any friends who are involved in your local news scene?
• Gather the contacts of blogs, press outlets, and local radio stations from their websites! Most will have either direct emails of their writers if not a “submit story idea” contact.

Once your list is built, copy/paste your draft and send, send, send! Most press sources won’t respond until your third email, so don’t be shy and keep forwarding your same email.

*Pro Tip* Never send press emails Friday-Mondays, you don’t want to get lost in the weekend build-up!