CCA E-Blast Requirements

MEMBERSHIP EMAIL OUTREACH INFORMATION

E-BLAST RULES + REQUIREMENTS

The CCA facilitates two (2) types of e-blasts: JOURNALISTIC and FYC (For Your Consideration). Please find the overall rules and requirements for each type. 

The membership list with contact information is no longer distributed by the Critics Choice Association. You can find a current list of members on the CCA website. Associate members are not listed on the website.

• All email correspondence sent by the Critics Choice Association or an approved mailing house to the membership must be pre-approved by CCA.

• Each e-blast send is facilitated by the CCA internal team or an approved mailing house. 
• E-Blasts must be scheduled in advance. Same-day e-blast requests cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability.

• Mailing Houses do not provide the names, email addresses and/or any contact information for CCA members to third parties. It is strictly prohibited for the mailing houses to do so. 
• If including a salutation: Use Critics Choice Association Member (not CCA Member).

• You can find a list of the approved mailing houses with contact information within the CCA Membership Mailing Guidelines (physical + digital) here. 
• Email Subject Line: 150 characters or less (including spaces) and cannot be in ALL CAPS. The film/series title can be in all CAPS.
• The CCA team does not build eblast creative. Final creative must be delivered by studio/agency. 

JOURNALISTIC

E-Blasts to the CCA membership for all pre-release, non-awards contending film/series for pure review and/or editorial purposes. e-blasts can be sent to a specific branch or the full membership.

“Journalistic” Outreach Includes:

• New Release Awareness
• Trailer Debut Awareness
• New Episode Announcements  
• Pre-Release Screenings Invitations
• Film/Series Premiere Invitations
• Press Conference Invitations (virtual + In-person)
• Marketing/Experiential Event Invitations

Additionally:

• Journalistic e-blasts are sent by internal CCA staff.
• One (1) “reminder” e-blast is approved on a case-by-case basis and subject to scheduling availability. Please request in advance.
• Post-release journalistic e-blast requests are approved on a case-by-case basis and subject to scheduling availability. Costs may apply.
• Film/series Premiere invitations must be labeled clearly as such, and not as a “special screening”.

• You cannot include FYC screening opportunities within the same creative for a Premiere event.

• Pre-release Awards titles are granted one (1) journalistic e-blast specifically for a press conference, roundtable or special screening event.

For Your Consideration (FYC)

Email outreach to the CCA membership for all Awards contending film/series for any and all awards campaigning purposes. E-Blasts can be sent to a specific branch/group or the full membership. 

“FYC” Outreach Includes:

• Awards Screening Invites
• Awards Panel Discussions and Conversations 
• Awards Tastemaker Events
• Awards Film/Series Press Conferences (Virtual + In-Person)
• Screener Viewing Access
• Contenders Campaign Awareness
• Awards Screening Calendars
• Any correspondence directed to a Nominating Committee Group (Nom Comm)

Additionally:

• Email subject lines must begin with “FYC” for all awards consideration e-blasts.
• It is preferred that “FYC”, For Your Consideration or an “Awards” indicator is included within e-blast creative. 

• One (1) film/series viewing link per eblast creative

PRESS CONFERENCE INVITATIONS 

• ALL press conference e-blasts are sent by the CCA internal team whether Journalistic or FYC
• The CCA does not schedule press conferences if the preferred date/time is already taken by another studio for a press conference or roundtable. If this scheduling conflict occurs, the studio/agency must use their own press list and send out the invitation. 
• Journalistic press conference invitations are sent free-of-fees
• Journalistic press conference invitations cannot include FYC screening calendars
• Journalistic press conferences invitations cannot include a list of FYC categories
• Creative must be delivered at least seven (7) business days prior to press conference date
  • You must provide a tentative date to have invitation sent to membership
• Post-Press Conference Transcript Eblasts:
  • Must be sent within five (5) business days of the press conference event date
  • Journalistic sent free-of-fees as a courtesy
  • FYC press conference transcript eblasts are free-of-fees only if the CCA sent the original press conference invitation

• FYC Press Conference E-Blasts:
  • Post-release Awards titles can do press conferences with CCA members
  • Can include a screener link or limited opportunities to see the film in preparation
  • Cannot include Awards screening calendars
  • Cannot include screening opportunities that extend past the date of the scheduled press conference
  • Save-the-dates e-blasts cannot include FYC screening calendars but can include limited screening opportunities (2).

• Date Holds: 
  • You can place more than one press conference date on hold  for the same title.
  • An “official challenge” can be requested if your preferred press conference date is on hold by another studio/agency.
  • The results of an official challenge can take up to two (2) business days to be fully resolved. At the conclusion of the challenge period, the date will either be confirmed or the hold released.  

UNIQUE VIEWING/ACCESS CODES

• E-Blasts that offer a unique code of any kind must be facilitated by an approved mailing house
• The CCA digital team does not send out e-blasts that require a unique viewing/access code
• The unique code(s) must be sent to the mailing house to be added to the e-blast creative. 
• RSVPing or populating a studio/agency request form to receive the code directly is not allowed. 

COST + FEES

• JOURNALISTIC: No CCA administration costs apply for the first two (2) pre-releases e-blasts sent for the same title.
  • $1,000 CCA admin fee applies for additional e-blasts sent for the same title.
  • $1,000 CCA admin fee applies if the post-release title e-blast is for promotional/marketing content awareness, not for general review or editorial purposes.

• FYC: CCA administration fee of $2,500/per e-blast. Discounts for frequency of send and/or independent titles are offered.
  • Mailing house fees also apply. These fees are quoted directly by the mailing house and applicable fees should be paid directly to the mailing house. 

CREATIVE SPECS

• You can download the journalistic e-blast specs here
• FYC e-blast specs and requirements are provided directly by the mailing house you choose.

You can download the Member Mailing Guidelines here.

You can view e-bast examples here.

For additional pricing details, questions or to book an e-blast, please contact Kymber Allen at [email protected].