Moving images
The legal deposit obligation for films and moving images encompasses feature films, documentaries, as well as short films, music videos, commercials, and similar productions.
Video releases on physical media, such as DVD, Blu-Ray, and UHD, are to be deposited in three copies per format.
Films and videos that are made available on the internet for artistic, commercial, or informational purposes must be deposited in one digital copy.
Films that are publicly performed and shown, such as in cinemas, festivals, etc., must be deposited as user copies/screeners and as master copies – with corresponding audio, including audio description and audio subtitles, as well as regular subtitles, intertitles, etc.
All versions must be deposited, for example, short and long versions, various masterings for television, internet, and cinema, 2D and 3D, language versions, and others.
For more detailed technical specifications and explanations of user copies/screeners and masters, see the comprehensive delivery list for film and video.
Other materials related to film and video releases are also subject to legal deposit. This includes promotional material such as teasers and trailers, TV spots, Electronic Press Kits, motion posters, movie posters, and brochures. For more detailed specifications, expand the tabs below.
Specifications for submissions
Electronic Press Kit
What should be submitted?
The EPK should be submitted with video and corresponding audio, along with other digital and electronic materials that are part of the promotional package, such as still images, text documents, and similar material. Deliver in open and standardized formats, if the production equipment and software used in the creation of the EPK support this.
A 1:1 duplicate size copy of the EPK must be submitted.
Form and Quality
See the delivery list for film and video
What is an EPK?
This is a promotional package produced in standard or HD video format. Most EPKs contain a collection of interviews with participants, producers, and directors. It may include footage showing the film production (behind-the-scenes) and some scenes from the movie (clips) as well as teasers and trailers. Additionally, the EPK may contain a synopsis, film critique, still images from the film, an electronic version of the movie poster, or other materials cinemas or festivals can print out on their own.
The EPK may be produced by a company different from the publisher of the film itself.
Movie posters and brochures
What should be submitted?
This applies to posters, film programs, PR documents, and small posters used to promote the film. Printed copies should be submitted in 2 copies.
Electronic copies, preferably print files, should be copied 1:1 for submission.
Film teasers and trailers
What should be submitted?
Teasers and trailers should be submitted as a master copy with corresponding audio, and as a user copy/screener in the form of an unencrypted DCP. In some cases, trailers are made for theater plays or art performances as advertisements for a performance, shown on broadcasters, the internet, or similar. These should be submitted in line with commercial films.
Form and Quality
See the delivery list for film and video
What are teasers and trailers?
A teaser is an advertisement for a film, usually a feature film. It is typically short in duration and is often shown as a prelude to a main film in cinemas, as an advertisement for an upcoming feature film.
Teasers usually last from 30 to 60 seconds and may have short clips from the film they are advertising. The release time is often half a year before the premiere of the feature film it advertises.
Trailers last a few minutes and contain scenes from the film. The release date is often one or two months before the premiere of the feature film they are advertising. It has become popular to include trailers and teasers in Blu-ray and DVD releases as bonus material, but also for use in lower quality on cinema and film websites on the internet.
Commercials
What should be submitted?
Initially, two copies should be submitted, one master copy with corresponding audio and one user copy/screener.
The user copy/screener may come in various formats due to delivery to broadcasters, internet providers, and commercial film distributors like Capa, Media Direct Norway, etc. Therefore, there is allowance to submit only one copy of the master in a 1:1 duplicate size.
Commercial films, which are produced within a limited period, may be submitted collectively after an agreement with the National Library.
Form and Quality
See the delivery list for film and video
TV and web spots
What should be submitted?
TV and web spots should be submitted as a master copy with corresponding audio. User copies/screeners can come in various variants depending on distribution via broadcaster, internet provider, or others. Therefore, there is allowance to submit only one copy of the master in a 1:1 duplicate size.
Form and Quality
See the delivery list for film and video
What is a TV and web spot?
An advertisement for a film, based on feature films, documentaries, short films, or similar. Usually lasting from 10 to 20 seconds and shown on television or the internet. A spot often advertises a product, sponsor, or brand that is used in the film.
Submissions of digital film and associated material are preferably done by sending us links from your own FTP server or file-sharing services you use. Send an email with information about the submission, download links, and any login information to pliktavlevering@nb.no.
If you do not have access to your own file-sharing services, we can send you a voucher for the file-sharing service Sikt Filesender for files up to 1000 GB. (Note: it is not possible to send folders/folder structures through this service.)
Alternatively, the material can be sent on an external USB hard drive by mail.
If a receipt for legal deposit is needed in connection with deadlines for film funds or others, please submit well in advance. The material must be downloaded and visually and technically checked before a receipt can be issued. This can take time, and errors and deficiencies may arise during this check, delaying the process.
Who should submit?
The publisher is responsible for making the submission. The submission should be made unsolicited and free of charge – meaning any costs are covered by the publisher. Copies can also be delivered from the producer, i.e., post-production company, if agreed with the publisher.
When should foreign releases be submitted?
Foreign releases that have a Norwegian co-producer or are adapted to Norwegian conditions, such as with Norwegian dubbing, must be legally deposited.
For digital films, a user copy/screener must be submitted. The film should preferably be intended for Norwegian viewing and publishing; alternatively, an international version can be delivered. A copy of the master can be submitted instead of, or in addition to, the user copy/screener.
For video releases, three copies per format are submitted. Productions where the only Norwegian adaptation is Norwegian subtitles are not submitted.
The Norwegian co-producer, publisher, or importer is responsible for the submission.
Distribution of foreign quality film
Additionally, all foreign films that have received support from the Norwegian Film Institute’s grant scheme for the distribution of foreign quality films must be submitted to the National Library.
Here, a user copy/screener is submitted according to the specifications agreed upon: https://www.nfi.no/sok-tilskudd/lansering-og-distribusjon/distribusjon-av-utenlandsk-kvalitetsfilm.
The Norwegian distributor is responsible for the submission.
Receipt for approved submission
The National Library provides a receipt for approved submission upon request from the publisher, in cases where the publisher needs to confirm the legal deposit to a third party. The publisher must inform if such a receipt should be sent to the enterprises and individuals who need this, such as NFI Filmfondet, Kulturrådet, or others.
Why submit a master copy and a user copy/screener?
High-quality film copies of the master should be submitted so that the releases can be stored under optimal preservation conditions in our digital secure archive. The purpose is to preserve all production elements for posterity. The preservation takes into account new technology that requires conversion or migration in the future. The user copy/screener can then be used as a reference for the master copy and as an easily accessible copy if the publisher conducts a new screening in the future. If the publisher’s copy is lost or damaged, the National Library can produce a new copy or lend a copy so that the publisher can produce a new master or user copy/screener.