Press KitsTVHorror

How ChaiFlicks Launched 'The Malevolent Bride': A Press Kit Template for International Horror Series

ccomings

2026-01-31

10 min read

A hands-on press kit template and pitch guide for small streamers launching global horror—modeled on ChaiFlicks’ The Malevolent Bride pickup.

Hook: Stop hunting for scattered release details — launch smart, launch global

If you’re a small streamer or acquisitions team trying to turn a regional horror hit into an international moment, you’ve felt the friction: press assets scattered across prod companies, last-minute subtitle files, unclear talent availability, and press kits that read like a legal brief. ChaiFlicks’ pickup of The Malevolent Bride is a recent example of how a focused press kit and a tight pitch can turn an Israeli series into a global talking point. This guide gives you a ready-to-use press kit template and pitch playbook tuned for small streaming services scaling regional horror for global audiences in 2026.

Why this matters in 2026: trends shaping international horror launches

Late 2025 and early 2026 accelerated a few trends that make a curated press kit indispensable:

Niche platforms go global: Services like ChaiFlicks are actively acquiring regional titles to grow worldwide subscriptions and brand authority.
Faster localization via AI: Automated subtitles and AI-assisted dubs cut lead times, but editors still need human QC and clear delivery specs. See notes on AI tool hygiene and human review.
Shorter publicity windows: The social algorithm rewards surprise drops and airtight embargoes; expect 30–60 day PR cycles, not half-year campaigns. For tooling, consider PR workflow automation to streamline fast cycles.
Creator-first publicity: Talent-driven content (behind-the-scenes, reaction reels) outperforms generic press releases in audience engagement. Small teams can produce vertical originals with compact setups—see tiny at-home studios for cost-effective vertical production.
Rights clarity is mandatory: Global distribution demands explicit chain-of-title documentation; missing paperwork stalls launches.

Quick case reference: The Malevolent Bride meets ChaiFlicks

In early January 2026, The Malevolent Bride—an Israeli horror series from creators linked to Fauda—landed on ChaiFlicks. The acquisition was covered by trade outlets and illustrates the modern acquisition path: festival buzz and regional broadcaster exposure (Kan 11), production backing (Ananey Studios / A+E Studios), and a niche streaming home tuned to the title’s core audience. Use that model: find the niche platform whose audience aligns, prepare a press kit built for global discovery, and own the localization & distribution notes up front. If you’re targeting festival placement or slots, review recent festival coverage for context (example: festival reportage).

Press kit template: structure and copy you can copy-paste

Below is a modular press kit template optimized for international horror titles and small streaming platforms. Keep everything in a single cloud folder with clear naming conventions. Share a public press landing page + gated high-res assets for media and partners.

Include a printable PDF one-sheet with:

Title: The Malevolent Bride (English title) — include original title if different
Logline (one sentence): Concise, spoiler-free—e.g., "A contagion of madness spreads in a haredi neighborhood; a secular physicist and a religious psychologist race to stop it."
Key details: Country, seasons/episodes, runtime per episode, premiere date, genre tags (psychological horror, serial drama), language
Distribution status: Produced by Ananey Studios & A+E; originally aired on Kan 11; newly acquired by ChaiFlicks (worldwide/non-exclusive—specify)
Quick contact: Publicist, Acquisitions lead, PR email, and press kit URL

2) High-level synopsis + episode logline

Provide a 150–200 word series synopsis followed by 1-line loglines for each episode. Keep episode loglines spoiler-safe: same appeal across territories.

3) Talent bios (three lengths)

Include standardized bios so local and international press can pick the right version:

One-liner (10–15 words) — for captions and social cards.
Short bio (50 words) — for listings and program guides.
Feature bio (150–200 words) — for profiles and feature pieces.

Example for Leeoz Levy (tailor for actual talent):

Leeoz Levy — One-liner: Transgender actress in her first leading role as Malki Price.
Short bio: Leeoz Levy is an Israeli stage and screen actor known for X & Y. The Malevolent Bride marks her first major lead role in a TV series.
Feature bio: Expanded career highlights, training, notable credits, festivals, and quotes on the role/representation.

4) Key art & asset list (delivery specs)

Provide a checklist and format demands. Store both web-optimized and print-ready assets.

Poster / Key art: 3000x4500 px (3:2), TIFF or high-res PNG, 300 DPI
Banner / Header: 1920x1080 (16:9), and 1280x720
Vertical assets: 1080x1920 (9:16) for Reels/TikTok
Cast headshots: 3000 px long edge, PNG
Stills package: 20-30 color & B/W production stills with captions and photographer credits
Trailers: 60s/30s/15s and a platform sizzle (HD ProRes 422 HQ and H.264 web versions) — pair with a compact field kit for quick turnaround (field kit review).
Behind-the-scenes reels: 60–120s, vertical & horizontal cuts
Logos and badges: transparent PNG & SVG, color and mono

5) Technical deliverables & localization list

Lay out what you have and what’s coming. For international launches this avoids last-minute delays.

Master files: ProRes/IMF details, audio stems, closed caption files (SCC), caption formats (SRT/VTT)
Subtitle status: Source language SRT, and target language SRTs (EN/FR/ES/AR — list based on territories)
Dub status: Language(s), voice cast list, ISCI/metadata
QC notes: Color grade, loudness, versioning (edit A/B), and any provisional edits

6) Legal & clearance docs

Be explicit. International partners will ask for:

Chain of title
Music cue sheet and sync licenses
Talent releases and image waivers
Distributor/producer contracts (redacted versions acceptable)
Clearance for archival footage, logos, or trademarks

7) Press materials & quotes

Include suggested press quotes and embargoed interview windows. Provide a short list of spokespeople: showrunner, lead actors, acquisitions executive at the streamer with short availability windows for interviews. Use PR tooling where possible to manage embargoed access and quick responses.

8) Marketing & campaign plan (90/60/30/14/7/1/0 day playbook)

Give partners a turnkey plan that maps assets to channels. Example calendar:

90 days: Secure festival slot, prepare subtitles/dub, finalize one-sheet and trailer plan.
60 days: Send teaser to trade press under embargo; seed select influencers and critics.
30 days: Launch trailer + key art; open pre-saves/watchlist; begin paid geo-targeted social ads in priority territories.
14 days: Release cast interviews, behind-the-scenes clips; push verticals for TikTok/Reels.
7 days: Full episode preview to key critics; AR/VR watch party setup if planned.
1 day: Premiere event and red-carpet assets, send final press release.
Day 0: Social premiere kit, community Q&A, moderated watch party. For geo-fenced community premieres and moderated chats see hybrid hangouts and watch party playbooks.

9) Distribution & territory notes

Spell out the licensing model in plain language:

Type: SVOD exclusivity (global) / SVOD exclusive (selected territories) / non-exclusive global — specify.
Window length: 12–36 months typical; clarify reversion terms.
Ancillary rights: Linear TV, SVOD, AVOD, theatrical, merchandising — list retained vs licensed.
Localization obligations: who handles dubs/subtitles and at whose cost.
Compliance: content advisories and local age-ratings (include provisional ratings where available).

Pitch guide: how to sell a regional horror show to an international streamer

Use this step-by-step pitch checklist built from successful mid-2025 to early-2026 acquisitions.

Step 1 — Research the perfect home

Map platforms by audience and content strategy. ChaiFlicks, for example, seeks Jewish content worldwide—so a title rooted in Israeli culture but universal in theme (like contagion of belief) is a fit. Make a list: 3 primary targets, 5 secondary targets, and 2 speculative outlets (festivals, curated channels).

Step 2 — Tailor the one-sheet

Don’t send a generic deck. Change the one-liner and campaign notes to the platform’s tone. For a niche streamer emphasize community hooks; for a mainstream SVOD emphasize scale and engagement metrics (festivals, social impressions, early reviews).

Step 3 — Lead with data and context

Pair the creative pitch with evidence:

Festival selection or awards
Ratings/performance on original broadcaster (if allowed)
Social traction: list counts of clips, impressions, or local press coverage
Comparable titles and performance benchmarks

Step 4 — Supply a launch-ready package

Decision-makers prefer low-friction deals. Attach an abbreviated press kit (one-sheet, trailer, key art, and chain-of-title summary) to your initial pitch email. Offer to deliver the full kit on a shared drive after an NDA.

Step 5 — Suggest a bespoke marketing angle

Give the platform a campaign idea they can own. Example for The Malevolent Bride:

"Host a geo-fenced Mea Shearim premiere Q&A and promote a cult-psychology deep-dive series with religious leaders and scientists to spark discussions across communities."

Step 6 — Be explicit on costs & resource asks

Small streamers need budget clarity. Propose a cost split for localization, paid media, and premiere events. If you can absorb subtitling/dubbing costs to close the deal, note that as a bargaining chip.

Sample pitch email (editable)

Short subject lines and a clear ask win. Use personalization.

Subject: For ChaiFlicks — The Malevolent Bride: Israeli horror series built for your global audience Hi [Name], We’d love to discuss an exclusive streaming partnership for The Malevolent Bride, an Israeli horror series produced by Ananey & A+E and newly available from Kan 11. The series blends psychological terror with cultural specificity—ideal for ChaiFlicks’ global Jewish audience. Attached: one-sheet, 60s trailer link, and proposed 60/30/14 day launch plan. We can deliver subtitles in EN/FR/ES and a provisional English dub within 3 weeks. Are you available for a quick 20-minute call this week to review rights and launch ideas? Best, [Your name] — [Title]

Practical deliverables checklist (copy & paste)

One-sheet PDF
60s trailer (ProRes + H.264)
Key art: 3 sizes
Cast bios (1/50/150 words)
Episode loglines
Chain of title PDF
Music cue sheet
Subtitles: SRT in English
Contact list: press, booking, production

Localization & content safety: what to prioritize in 2026

AI tools make localization cheaper, but humans must verify. For horror, tone is everything—mistranslation can ruin a jump scare or a cultural nuance. Prioritize:

Human-verified subtitles: native speaker review for idioms and tone
Adaptive dubbing: AI can draft temp tracks, but cast key emotional beats with voice actors
Content advisories: clear warnings for sensitive themes (religion, gender, violence) and region-specific age ratings

Measurement: KPIs for a successful international horror launch

Before launch, set measurable goals and report cadence. Suggested KPIs:

Watchlist adds / pre-saves in the first 7 days
Completion rate for episodes (target 60–80% for serial horror)
Press pickup count & top-tier placements weight — track press pickup with PR tooling (example review)
Social engagement: watch-party participation, hashtag volume
Subscriber lift in target territories

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Missing chain-of-title: stalls deals. Get legal docs early.
Under-delivered assets: low-res images or missing closed captions frustrate partners. Use the checklist above.
Unclear exclusivity: define territory and term in writing before pitching publicity partners.
Poor embargo management: set clear embargo windows and provide embargoed materials via secure links.

Advanced strategies and 2026 predictions

Looking ahead, small streamers and producers should prepare for:

Dynamic localization: Real-time subtitle toggles and AI-driven tone adjustments for cultural localization.
Community premieres: Geo-fenced watch parties with moderated chats and creator Q&As become a standard engagement tool. See hybrid hangout playbooks for faith and community hubs (hybrid hangouts).
Short-form spin-offs: Platforms will expect 1–3 minute vertical originals to boost discovery—plan a short-form content pack alongside the main kit and consider producing them with tiny studios.
Ethical AI policies: With voice-cloning and synthetic media regulation evolving since 2024–25, include a statement in your kit about the use (or non-use) of synthetic likenesses for any localization work.

Closing: The Malevolent Bride template — make it your own

When ChaiFlicks picked up The Malevolent Bride, the deal wasn’t accidental. It was the result of a clear production pedigree, festival visibility, and a ready-to-launch press kit that spoke the language of a niche streamer with global ambitions. Use this press kit template and pitch guide as a starting point—customize the marketing plan, tighten your legal docs, and invest in human-verified localization.

Actionable takeaways:

Create a single shared press kit folder and keep filenames standardized
Prepare three-length talent bios and one versatile one-sheet
Plan localization with human QC and clear delivery specs
Offer a platform-specific marketing hook in every pitch

Call to action

Ready to launch a regional horror series for a global audience? Use this press kit template now: copy the checklists, plug in your assets, and email your top three platform targets with the sample pitch email above. If you want a tailored version for your title, reach out to our creator tools team at comings.xyz for a customized kit and a 30-minute launch clinic.

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