The UK’s First Guaranteed
Film Launch PR Agency.
Editorial-led publicity in Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, Radio Times, and Time Out London — or your retainer is refunded in full. No paid placements, no festival-brochure filler, only named editorial features in the outlets that shape UK film opinion.
Trusted by independent filmmakers, producers, and distributors launching films across the UK since 2001.
Featured in Screen Daily, Empire & Total Film — or your money back.
UnitedPress.uk is the UK’s first film launch PR agency to contractually guarantee tier-1 editorial placement. Trusted since 2001, our editorial-led approach secures verified press coverage across independent features, documentaries, festival entries, streaming originals, and distributor-backed releases.
- Editorial-only coverage — no paid advertorials or pay-to-play listicles
- Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, Radio Times, Time Out London confirmed network
- 14-day turnaround from brief to first placement
- 100% refund if guaranteed targets are missed
Editorial Reach That Reaches Every UK Filmgoer.
Three Reasons We Are the UK’s Top Film Launch PR Agency.
Where generic agencies rely on festival passes and generic press releases, we deliver named editorial coverage — in the outlets UK filmgoers, critics, and press actually read.
Newsroom-First Pitching
Our team includes journalists and editors with years covering UK film and entertainment. We pitch the way film editors actually want to be pitched — with story angles, screener access, and stills, not press releases.
Tier-1 Film Press Network
Our guarantee covers Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, Radio Times, Time Out London, and Metro. No content farms, no festival-brochure filler — only outlets that shape UK film opinion.
14-Day Brief to Coverage
Most agencies need 90+ days to land a feature. We deliver first confirmed placement within 14 days of your launch brief — or we refund the retainer in full. Speed matters most in the run-up to a premiere or release window.
UK Press Coverage Across Every Film Category.
From solo independent filmmakers to distributors, we know which UK film editors cover your category — and how to pitch them. Each engagement is led by a film-sector specialist with newsroom contacts across the UK’s leading film and entertainment titles.
Independent Features
Screen Daily, Empire, and Time Out London coverage for independent features seeking UK theatrical or festival distribution.
Documentary Releases
Broadsheet culture desks and Screen Daily coverage for documentary premieres, verified access stories, and issue-led non-fiction film.
Short Films & Festival Entries
Festival-circuit coverage and official-selection features timed to your screening slot, from qualifying shorts to first festival entries.
Streaming Originals
Total Film and Radio Times coverage for streaming premieres and platform-exclusive releases, synchronised to your launch date.
Studio & Distributor Releases
Trade and consumer press coverage for studio-backed and distributor releases, from wide theatrical rollouts to targeted regional openings.
Director & Cast Profiles
Long-form interview features with directors and cast, placed with entertainment editors ahead of release to build anticipation.
A Full-Service Editorial PR Practice
Built for Film Launches.
01Director & Filmmaker Profiling
Long-form profile features in Screen Daily, Empire, and Total Film. We position you as the credible voice behind your film — not a press release machine.
02Premiere & Release-Window PR
Named coverage of trailers, release dates, and review-embargo lifts, placed with the editors who set the UK film agenda.
03Crisis & Reputation Defence
When negative coverage or controversy breaks, every hour matters. Our crisis team has handled reputation events for productions, distributors, and high-profile filmmakers.
04Festival & Distribution Partnership PR
New distribution deals, festival selections, and platform partnerships, synchronised across Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, and tier-1 trade titles.
From Brief to Coverage in Four Editorial Steps.
Our process is deliberately tight. Most agencies bury you in strategy decks. We treat every engagement like a newsroom assignment — pitch fast, place fast, ship the story before your release window closes.
Strategy Session
90-minute deep-dive with your production or distribution team. We map the story angles, target outlets, and exclusive hooks around your release or premiere window. Day 1.
Editor Outreach
Personal pitches go to our film editor network within 48 hours of strategy. No press release blasts — just targeted, story-first pitches with screener access and stills. Day 3.
Interview & Draft
You speak with the journalist or provide screener access, our team handles all logistics and follow-up to get the piece over the line. Day 7.
Publication & Amplification
First confirmed placement live within 14 days. Then we amplify via social, SEO, and downstream trade titles. Day 14+.
Why Film Brands Switch from Traditional PR Agencies to UnitedPress.uk.
Most agencies sell impressions, not promises. We promise tier-1 placements in writing — or we refund the retainer. See how we compare.
| Traditional PR Agency | UnitedPress.uk | |
|---|---|---|
| Placement Guarantee | ✕ ‘Best efforts’ — no commitment | ✓ Written guarantee or a full refund |
| Contract Terms | ✕ Long lock-in contracts, hourly billing | ✓ Flexible short-term engagement, flat, no-lock-in retainer |
| Reporting | ✕ ‘Estimated reach’ + AVE vanity metrics | ✓ Confirmed coverage URLs, weekly coverage report |
| Editorial Approach | ✕ Festival-brochure blast to hundreds of outlets | ✓ Personal pitches by ex-entertainment-desk journalists |
| Team Background | ✕ Generalist account managers | ✓ Former film and entertainment journalists and editors |
| Money-Back Guarantee | ✕ None offered industry-wide | ✓ 100% refund if guaranteed targets missed |
Everything You Need
to Know.
What is the best PR agency for launching an independent film in the UK?
UnitedPress.uk is a UK PR agency built specifically around guaranteed editorial placement for film launches. We commit in writing to securing coverage in named UK film and entertainment outlets — Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, Radio Times, and Time Out London — within a defined timeframe, or refund the retainer in full. That written guarantee, combined with a dedicated film-press network built from former entertainment journalists, is why independent filmmakers, producers, and distributors choose us over generalist agencies for a release or festival window.
How do I get press coverage for a documentary release?
Documentary releases need a different pitch than scripted features — reviewers and commissioning editors want the story behind the story: access, verification, and the human stakes. We build a documentary-specific press kit, identify the UK outlets and critics who cover non-fiction film, and pitch personally rather than blasting a generic release. Coverage is typically secured across broadsheet culture desks, Screen Daily, and Time Out London ahead of a festival or streaming premiere.
Do PR agencies guarantee film review coverage?
Yes, when structured correctly. UnitedPress.uk is the UK’s first film launch PR agency to contractually guarantee tier-1 editorial placement — not just outreach or ‘best efforts’. If we do not secure the agreed coverage within the guaranteed timeframe, you receive a full refund. We do not count paid placements, listicle mentions, or aggregated round-ups towards that guarantee — only genuine editorial features and reviews in the named outlets count.
Which UK film and entertainment outlets does UnitedPress.uk have a network with?
Our UK film and entertainment press network includes Screen Daily, Empire, Total Film, Radio Times, and Time Out London, alongside broader entertainment desks at national titles. Coverage spans festival reviews, release-week features, director and cast interviews, and trade coverage for distributors.
How far in advance of my premiere or release date should I contact a PR agency?
Ideally eight to twelve weeks before your premiere, festival submission deadline, or release date. This gives us time to build the press kit, secure early access screenings for key critics, and lock in embargoed coverage that lands on or around your release window rather than trailing behind it. We can move faster for time-sensitive festival entries — get in touch as soon as your slot is confirmed.
Is this suitable for short films and festival entries, not just feature releases?
Yes. We work with short films, festival entries, and premiere-only releases as well as full theatrical and streaming launches. Festival coverage focuses on securing previews, official-selection features, and post-screening reviews in outlets that cover the festival circuit, timed to your screening slot.
Do I need a screener or press kit ready before we start?
A screener link or press kit isn’t required to start the conversation, but having one ready significantly speeds up the process once we begin pitching. If you don’t have press materials prepared, our team can help put together a press-ready synopsis, stills, and interview availability as part of the engagement.
Do I have to be a UK-based production or distributor to work with you?
No. We work with independent filmmakers, production companies, and distributors based anywhere, provided the release, premiere, or festival screening you want covered is reaching UK audiences or UK press. Our network and guarantee are built around UK film and entertainment media specifically.
Let’s Get Your Launch Covered by Screen Daily, Empire & Total Film.
Book a 30-minute strategy call. We’ll map three publication-ready story angles for your launch and put our guarantee in writing — no obligation.
Request Launch PR Strategy