Preparing Your Film for Theatrical Screenings with DCU

If you plan to make your film available for theatrical screenings through Gathr, your film must first be prepared and approved for distribution through DCU.

Once Gathr introduces you to DCU, DCU will work directly with you to complete the required setup, review your Digital Cinema Package (DCP), and ensure your film is ready for theatrical exhibition.

1. Register as a DCU Vendor

After Gathr introduces you to DCU, you will need to complete the DCU vendor registration process.

As part of this process, you will:

Register with DCU as a vendor.
Submit your film and required theatrical assets.
Pay the $350 DCU setup and processing fee.

DCU will take over communication with you during this process and help make sure the required materials are submitted correctly.

2. Submit Your DCP for Review

DCU will review your theatrical files and confirm that your Digital Cinema Package is DCI-compliant and properly prepared for cinema exhibition.

Your DCP may be either:

2K or 4K
Encrypted or unencrypted
Encoded using JPEG 2000
Color corrected to the X’Y’Z’ color space
Presented in the film's original theatrical aspect ratio
Delivered in separate reels, where applicable

The package must meet standard Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) requirements.

3. Prepare Your Audio Files

The DCP should include synchronized theatrical audio in one or both of the following formats:

5.1 surround sound
7.1 surround sound

Audio should be supplied as synchronized WAV files at 24fps.

Depending on the mix, the applicable audio channels may include:

L, R, C, LFE, Ls, Rs, Lb, Rb

The audio must remain synchronized with the corresponding picture reels.

4. Deliver Your DCP

Your DCP can be provided to DCU through either:

Electronic delivery upload link, or
Physical hard drive delivery

DCU will coordinate the appropriate delivery process with you.

5. Provide a DKDM for Encrypted DCPs

If your DCP is encrypted, you must also provide DCU with the corresponding Distribution Key Delivery Message (DKDM).

The DKDM provides the authorization required for DCU to manage the encrypted DCP and generate the appropriate playback keys for theatrical exhibition.

If your DCP is unencrypted, a DKDM is not required.

6. Complete DCU Quality Assurance

After receiving your materials, DCU will work directly with you to confirm that the DCP has been prepared correctly and is suitable for theatrical distribution.

DCU is responsible for ensuring that the required DCP preparation and quality-assurance steps have been completed before the film is considered ready for theatrical exhibition through Gathr.

If DCU identifies an issue with your files, they will work with you directly to resolve it.

Technical Specifications

For complete technical requirements and detailed guidance on creating a compliant Digital Cinema Package, refer to the following resources:

Refer to these links for specific technical details about the required file formats, encoding, packaging, audio, encryption, naming conventions, and other DCI requirements.

What Happens After Approval?

Once DCU confirms that your DCP is properly prepared and has completed the required quality-assurance process, your film can proceed toward theatrical distribution through Gathr.

You do not need to independently verify the technical compliance of the DCP with Gathr during this process. DCU will manage the technical review and communicate directly with you regarding any required changes or missing materials.