What to Include in Your Film One-Sheet (If You Want Press to Care)

A one-pager is exactly what it sounds like, a single-page overview of your film designed specifically for press and publicity outreach. It’s not a sell sheet for buyers. It’s not an EPK. It’s a rapid-fire, no-fluff tool for journalists, critics, and publicists to quickly understand what your film is, why it matters, and how to cover it.

In a sea of submissions during festival season, your one-pager might be the only thing a journalist reads before deciding to book an interview, request a screener, or skip entirely. That makes it one of the most important documents in your awards-season toolkit.

Fast Clarity and Easy Coverage

A good one-pager answers five unspoken questions in under 60 seconds:

1. What’s this film about?
2. Why should I care right now?
3. Who made it, and are they notable or emerging?
4. Where is it premiering or screening next?
5. Where can I find photos, quotes, and contact info fast?

The format is visual, punchy, and easy to skim. If your one-pager looks like a term paper, you’ve already lost them.

The Ideal One-Pager Layout (Section by Section)

1. Film Title, Logline, and Tagline (Top Center or Left-Aligned)

Make your film’s name unmistakable. Include the logline (1–2 sentences) and tagline if you’ve got one. Think bold fonts, easy contrast, and zero ambiguity.

Title: THE WILD QUIET
Logline: When a deaf teenager discovers an illegal logging ring in her small Alaskan town, she uses silence as her greatest weapon.
Tagline: “You don’t have to speak to be heard.”

2. Accolades + Festival Information (Right Side or Banner)

List recent or upcoming screenings, awards, or official selections. Use festival laurels here if you have them. If you’re premiering soon, highlight that as a “world premiere” or “U.S. premiere.”

World Premiere: 2025 Tribeca Film Festival – U.S. Narrative Competition
Winner: Best First Feature – Bentonville Film Festival
Official Selection: Outfest, Sidewalk, Heartland

3. Short Synopsis (3–5 Sentences Max)

This should read like a blurb on a streaming service, not a back-of-DVD essay. Tell the story, tease the tone, and make it emotionally sticky.

Set in a remote Alaskan logging town, The Wild Quiet follows June, a 16-year-old deaf girl who uncovers a criminal conspiracy threatening her family’s livelihood. As she navigates a hostile world that refuses to listen, she must decide whether to stay silent—or make herself impossible to ignore.

4. Director Bio + Quote (or Filmmaker Statement)

Give a one-paragraph bio of the director, framed for relevance. Include a brief, quotable statement about their intent, perspective, or passion for the film. This is especially helpful for critics looking for a soundbite.

About the Director:
Ella Navarro is a Puerto Rican writer-director and former visual anthropologist whose work explores identity, silence, and resistance. Her short film Voiceless won Best Emerging Director at Palm Springs ShortsFest.

“I wanted to make a film where silence wasn’t a barrier, but a force. The Wild Quiet is about the power of unspoken truth in a world that talks too loud.”

5. Cast Highlights (Optional, But Useful)

If you’ve got name actors, Emmy winners, or breakout talent, list them here with one-line bios. If they’ve been in recognizable titles, mention those.

Starring:
Sasha Lane (American Honey, Conversations with Friends)
Charlie Plummer (Lean on Pete, Looking for Alaska)
Newcomer Aiyana Cruz in her screen debut as June

6. Press Assets + Contact Info

Include a line or two that tells press where to go for assets: your press kit, stills, trailer, clips, and more. Make it as frictionless as possible.

Press Kit, Stills, and Screener Requests:
Ben Garves Films – ADAPT

Publicist Contact:
Ben Garves – ben@garvescope.com

Design Tips to Make It Pop (Without Overdoing It)

Use your film’s branding	Match fonts, colors, and logos to your poster or title card.
Add 2–3 stills or a banner image	Choose frames with emotion, action, or striking visuals.
Keep it to one page, one column	No excessive blocks of text. White space is your friend.
Export to PDF	Make sure links are clickable and images render well in both desktop and mobile views.

A bonus? Save your one-pager in a landscape and a portrait version. Some platforms prefer vertical formats, especially for printouts or small-screen reading.

When and How to Use It

Your one-pager should be sent with every press pitch, included in every EPK, and handed out in person at festivals or markets. Think of it as your business card for the press.

Even if someone only glances at it, you’ve planted the seed. If they’re on deadline and need a quote, synopsis, or credit block, it’s already in their hands. The more accessible you make your film, the more coverage you’ll get.