Timetable

A timetable or projection run sheet is an operational working document for projectionists and technical staff in cinema and festival environments. It brings together all information required for the correct preparation and execution of one or more screenings. It combines programme planning, DCP information and technical playback parameters in a form that can be used directly by the projection team. Unlike a public programme, a run sheet is not intended for the audience, but for the people responsible for preparing and running the screening technically. It therefore acts as a practical interface between festival organisation, scheduling, DCP/KDM management and projection. A run sheet typically contains, among other things:

screening time and programme section
film title or individual titles within a short-film programme
the CPL name (Composition Playlist) to be used
the KDM status, for example whether an encrypted film has already been unlocked
a technical check status
specific notes for the screening
sound format or audio configuration
picture format such as Flat or Scope
frame rate (FPS)
running time
language and subtitle information
where applicable, the subtitle type, for example burn-in or dynamic subtitles Particularly important are the screening-specific notes that cannot be derived from the DCP name or metadata alone. For example, a note may state that the picture only begins after 15 seconds, or that the film contains changing picture formats and temporary black frames. Information like this helps prevent intentional characteristics of the content from being mistaken for playback errors during the screening. The status can also serve as a technical control indicator. For example, titles may be marked as “OK” or with a warning symbol. A general note may instruct the projection team to test marked films in advance where possible and, in particular, to check that the subtitles are present. The CPL entry is especially important for projection because a cinema server may contain several versions of the same film. A run sheet should therefore ideally specify not only the film title, but the exact Composition Playlist to be used. This makes it possible to clearly distinguish between different language versions, subtitle versions, OV/VF versions or other variants. Technical parameters such as picture format, sound and frame rate are also relevant for projection. They allow the projector, server, sound system and, where applicable, automation to be prepared for the respective screening. For example, formats such as 1.85 (Flat) and 2.39 (Scope) may be specified. A run sheet may also contain multiple items within a single screening. This is particularly important for short-film programmes, festival blocks, trailers, audience slides, inserts or additional event elements. The order of these elements can be just as important for projection as the technical characteristics of the individual CPLs. Because DCPs, KDMs, versions or technical notes often change during a festival, a run sheet should generally be version-controlled. The version number allows projection staff to verify that they are working with the most up-to-date information. Short definition: A projection run sheet is the central technical working document for a cinema screening. It specifies when and in what order content is to be shown, which DCP or CPL versions must be used, and which technical or organisational details the projection team must observe.