Digital Cinema Packages
A short film DCP for $99, 2K or 4K, delivered in under 24 hours.
A Digital Cinema Package is a must-have for filmmakers screening in theaters and at festivals. The digital equivalent of a 35MM film print, DCP is a universal industry standard format used by nearly every modern movie theater, worldwide.
Trusted by filmmakers screening at Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca.
DCP Cost Estimate
Price your film instantly
DCP Service Options
How Much Does a DCP Cost?
Films with standard specs qualify for Instant DCP, the fastest digital cinema package service on the market: your finished DCP in 24 hours or less, or your money back. Everything else is a Custom DCP, mastered by our engineers.
Standard projects
Instant DCP
$10/min · $99 minimum · delivered in under 24 hours
- ✓Order online, upload today
- ✓2K or 4K · stereo or 5.1 audio
- ✓Digital download delivery
- ✓Rush option: $99 · typically delivered within 6 hours
- ✓Optional QC report: $50
- ✓24-hour delivery or your money back
Complex projects
Custom DCP
$15/min features · $300 flat shorts
- ✓Mastered by our DCP engineers
- ✓5.1 / 7.1 / Atmos · alternate audio tracks
- ✓Captions, subtitles, versioning, KDM encryption
- ✓USB / CRU drive delivery · festival slates
- ✓Optional QC report: $50
Quote first — you pay after we scope the work.
Get A QuoteMoney-back guarantee applies to Instant DCP standard turnaround. The 24-hour clock starts when your validated upload completes; if we miss it, we refund your order. Rush is typically 6 hours.
Premium DCP Features
Which service fits your film?
Exact file requirements for both services are on the DCP delivery specs page, with Premiere and Resolve export settings.
Instant DCP
- Price
- $10/min · $99 minimum
- Turnaround
- Under 24 hours · rush typically under 6
- Audio
- Stereo or 5.1
- Captions & subtitles
- Burned-in subtitles OK
- Versions & encryption
- Single version
- Delivery
- Digital download
- QC report
- Optional · $50
- Best for
- Festival submissions & single screenings
Custom DCP
- Price
- $300 flat shorts · $15–20/min features
- Turnaround
- 3–5 business days · rush to same-day
- Audio
- Stereo, 5.1, 7.1, Atmos + alternate tracks
- Captions & subtitles
- Full timed-text creation + ADA tracks
- Versions & encryption
- Version files · KDM encryption
- Delivery
- Digital + USB / CRU drives
- QC report
- Optional · $50
- Best for
- Distribution, festival packages, complex specs
Custom DCP Rate Card
DCP Creation rates are based on total runtime (TRT) of your project
DCP Shorts
Under 20 min | Flat Rate
- 2K Projects
- $300
- 4K Projects
- $400
- 2-Day Rush Fee
- $50
- Next Day Rush Fee
- $150
- Same Day Rush Fee
- $350
3-5 business day
3-5 business day
2 business day
1 business day
Same business day
DCP Features
Over 20 min | Per Min
- 2K Projects
- $15/min
- 4K Projects
- $20/min
- 2-Day Rush Fee
- $300
- Next Day Rush Fee
- $750
- Same Day Rush Fee
- $1,500
3-5 business day
3-5 business day
2 business day
1 business day
Same business day
Delivery & Extras
- Digital Upload
- FREE
- Short USB Thumbdrive
- $35
- Features USB Thumbdrive
- $150
- CRU Drive Package
- $250
- KDM Encryption
- $100
- Timed Text - Shorts
- $150
- Timed Text - Features
- $350
- Alternate Audio
- $150
- DCP Re-Wrap
- $250
- Version Files
- $150
- Quality Control Report
- $50
High speed upload + 30 day sharable film download link
USB 3.0 drive | EXT2 format for digital cinema | <20 min TRT
USB 3.0 drive | EXT2 format for digital cinema | >20 min TRT
500GB drive in CRU sled | EXT2 format | Pelican carrying case
Includes 10 keys
Adding subtitles and captions
Adding subtitles and captions
Alternative soundtracks | Audio Description Track
Open and change DCP
Additional versioning not listed above
Software-generated QC validation of your finished DCP, verifying RDD-52 compliance.
Captions & Subtitles
Captions and subtitles for your DCP
Many festivals and theaters now ask for closed captions, and a cinema server can reject a caption track that breaks the SMPTE limits. Send us a clean .srt file and we build the timed text track for you: $150 for a short, $350 for a feature, within the standard 3–5 business days turnaround. No .srt yet? We can write English captions from scratch for $4 per minute of runtime. Other languages are quoted per film.
What to send us
- An .srt file for each caption or subtitle track, one language per file. If you don't have one, we can write it.
- Caption timing that starts at 00:00:00:00, not 01:00:00:00, matching the video file you send us.
- Caption timing at the same frame rate as your video file. We handle the conversion to 24 fps for the DCP.
- A note saying which tracks are closed captions and which are on-screen subtitles.
Closed captions or on-screen subtitles?
Closed captions play on a viewer's seat device or captioning glasses, so only the people who want them see them. On-screen subtitles are drawn over the picture for everyone, usually for a film in another language. Instant DCP takes subtitles that are already burned into your picture. Anything else needs a Custom DCP.
Caption rules your file has to follow
These limits come from SMPTE RDD 52, the specification theater servers check against. If your file runs over the character or line limits, we re-break the lines to fit. We never change the words.
- Characters per line, closed captions
- 32 maximum, spaces included
- Lines per caption
- 3 maximum
- Characters per line, on-screen subtitles
- 52 recommended, 79 maximum
- How long each caption stays up
- At least 15 frames
- Gap between captions
- At least 2 frames
- First caption
- At least 4 seconds into the film
- Closed caption file size
- 256 KB per reel. You don't need to manage this. We split your track into reels that meet it.
More detail in our guide to captioning for cinema.
Your DCP Specialists
Cinematiq has created Digital Cinema Packages for filmmakers screening at major film festivals including Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and San Francisco International. We've worked with Oscar-nominated filmmakers and a variety of distribution networks creating DCPs and other digital video projects.
Try DCP Transfer
Save money by making your own DCP copies
Digital Cinema Packages are delivered to cinemas and movie theaters on specially formatted drives that meet strict cinema standards. Learn how to format any drive for cinema delivery with DCP Transfer Software.
Try DCP Transfer Software
DCP Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Digital Cinema Package (DCP)?+
A Digital Cinema Package is the digital equivalent of a 35MM film print — a collection of files that movie theater servers recognize and play on the big screen. It is the universal industry standard format used by nearly every modern movie theater worldwide, and a must-have for filmmakers screening in theaters and at festivals.
How much does a DCP cost?+
Instant DCP is $10 per minute of runtime for 2K or 4K, with a $99 minimum that covers a short up to 9 minutes. A 15-minute short is $150. Custom DCPs are $300 flat for 2K shorts (under 20 minutes) and $15–20 per minute for features, plus optional extras like timed text, KDM encryption, and physical drive delivery.
What file do I need to send to make a DCP?+
A QuickTime file in Apple ProRes 422 (HQ recommended; H.264 is also accepted) with one embedded stereo or 5.1 audio stream, at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 or 30 fps in Rec-709. Our DCP delivery specs page has the full requirements and Premiere and Resolve export settings.
How fast can I get my DCP?+
Instant DCP is delivered in under 24 hours of upload, with a $99 rush option typically delivered within 6 hours — often far less for shorts. Custom DCPs take 3–5 business days, with 2-day, next-day, and same-day rush options.
What is the difference between Instant DCP and Custom DCP?+
Instant DCP is our automated service for standard projects: 2K or 4K, stereo or 5.1 audio, digital delivery. Custom DCP is mastered by our engineers and covers complex projects — 7.1 and Atmos audio, caption and subtitle track creation, multiple versions, KDM encryption, and USB or CRU drive delivery.
Will my DCP work at any theater or festival?+
Yes — DCP is the universal standard accepted by virtually all modern cinemas. Cinematiq has created DCPs for filmmakers screening at Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and San Francisco International. An optional Quality Control Report ($50) adds a software validation of RDD-52 compliance for your finished DCP.
Can you add captions or subtitles to my DCP?+
Yes. Our Custom service creates timed-text caption and subtitle tracks ($150 for shorts, $350 for features), including ADA compliance tracks. If your film already has burned-in subtitles, it qualifies for Instant DCP.
Do you deliver DCPs on physical drives?+
Digital download delivery is always free. We also ship USB 3.0 thumbdrives ($35 shorts, $150 features) and CRU drive packages with a Pelican carrying case ($250), all formatted to cinema standards.
More help: why a DCP fails at the theater · DCP drive formats · festival submission guide
What people say about us
“I’ve worked with Cinematiq on the post-production of two feature documentary films and two short films, working closely with them to create a post-production workflow and the DCP materials necessary for film festival distribution. Cinematiq has been an invaluable resource meeting deadlines with no sacrifice of excellence.”
“I've had the pleasure of working with Cinematiq for DCPs on three separate films and they've always been great to work with. They're not just button pushers; they're communicative problem solvers and intuitive filmmakers and even on one of the rush jobs they were resourceful, supportive and professional. I highly recommend them to other filmmakers.”
“I’ve worked with Cinematiq for my last three films and will continue to for future DCP and BluRay creation. Aaron, Paul, and Luke are knowledgable, great to work with, and have always been patient and kind when it came to my learning curve. Many of my existing colleagues and clients already work with them and I regularly recommend them to fellow filmmakers and clients who need DCP and BluRay creation for their projects.”
“Cinematiq is always a pleasure to work with on creating DCPs to exhibition. They are excellent communicators and go above and beyond to answer any questions. Their delivery of masters is very timely and I would highly recommend Cinematiq to other filmmakers! ”
“I’ve had technical problems with other companies getting my two films, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” and “Cold Refuge,” up and running for theatrical release. Luke not only solved all my tech issues, but also educated me in a low-key, friendly, matter-of-fact way on what makes a DCP actually work!”
“DCP Transfer by Cinematiq is the missing link in DCP creation, helping filmmakers ensure their DCP files are formatted properly for theatrical and festival delivery.”
“I had the pleasure of working with the Cinematiq team on several projects while I was Program Manager of LUNAFEST at Clif Bar & Company. Cinematiq provided equipment, the production team and the editing skills to quickly and seamlessly produce a high quality, professional video piece that was used in several ways. ”
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“I've had the pleasure of working with Cinematiq for DCPs on three separate films and they've always been great to work with. They're not just button pushers; they're communicative problem solvers and intuitive filmmakers and even on one of the rush jobs they were resourceful, supportive and professional. I highly recommend them to other filmmakers.”