ISDCF DCP NAMING CONVENTION

When a DCP is delivered to a cinema or festival, the first thing a projectionist or technician sees is often the folder name. If that name is vague (or inconsistent across versions), it’s easy to ingest the wrong package, schedule the wrong language, or confuse a 2K/4K or 5.1/2.0 version.

That’s why the industry widely uses the ISDCF naming convention: a practical, human-readable way to name DCPs consistently. ISDCF is not a “law” like SMPTE/DCI specs; it’s a community convention created to make DCP handling safer and more predictable across labs, distributors, festivals, and cinemas.

What ISDCF helps you communicate

A good ISDCF name quickly answers the key questions people need in real-world operations, such as:

• Which title is this?

• Which version/variant is it? (original, edited, different cut, trailer, etc.)

• Language and subtitles (OV, dubbed, burned-in subs, open captions, etc.)

• Picture format (2K/4K, Flat/Scope, frame rate when relevant)

• Audio format (5.1, 7.1, stereo, accessibility tracks when applicable)

Why it matters

ISDCF naming doesn’t replace the internal metadata (CPL/PKL) inside the DCP, but it reduces mistakes before anyone even opens the package. It becomes especially important when you deliver multiple versions (VO/VOSE, different subtitle languages, stereo vs 5.1, different aspect ratios, different territories, etc.).

Use the calculator

Use this calculator to generate an ISDCF-compliant name based on your actual delivery parameters. Then copy the result directly as your DCP folder name (and keep the same structure across all versions for clarity and consistency).

If you want, I can also give you a short “compact” version (3–4 lines) for landing pages, and a more technical version that explains common tags and pitfalls (e.g., OV vs VO, open captions vs burned-in, Flat/Scope conventions).