Translation and Subtitles
We provide professional subtitles in line with international standards.
Translation by native speakers with full attention to detail.
Translation by native speakers with full attention to detail.
Subtitles are a key requirement for international film festivals. We have been translating and subtitling since 2013. Don’t worry about the details — we know the craft inside‐out and will handle it for you.
Translation by Native Speakers
We accurately and quickly translate animated, fiction, and documentary films, commercials, lectures, and other audiovisual works into the target language, paying close attention to every nuance of the content.
Professional Subtitles
Subtitles are embedded in accordance with the ESIST international standard, which follows the best industry practices to ensure readability and viewer comfort in cinemas. We know exactly what font size and color to use, where to place the subtitles, and how long to display them on screen — so they support the story without distracting from it.
Prices
We can calculate the exact cost and turnaround time only after viewing the film.
Professional Translation
Pricing is based on the number of characters including spaces, counted from the text provided for translation.
Into English from other languages
$33 per page
By a native speaker
1 page = 1,800 characters (including spaces) according to MS Word statistics (approximately 300 words).
1 page = 1,800 characters (including spaces) according to MS Word statistics (approximately 300 words).
From English into other languages
from $33 per page
By a native speaker
1 page = 1,800 characters (including spaces) according to MS Word statistics (approximately 300 words).
1 page = 1,800 characters (including spaces) according to MS Word statistics (approximately 300 words).
The minimum order amount is $25.
Pricing is calculated per character (including spaces), based on the text submitted for translation.
Turnaround Time
Pricing is calculated per character (including spaces), based on the text submitted for translation.
Turnaround Time
- Short film translation: 2–4 business days
- Feature film translation: 5–7 business days
Subtitles
Timecoding and placement of existing subtitles
Standard video
$2.20 / minute
(fiction or animation films)
Documentary video
$3.30 / minute
(documentaries or informational content)
Subtitle conversion (Convertaio)
$27 for files under 5 GB
$2.20 per each additional GB
$2.20 per each additional GB
Includes downloading, review, conversion, and uploading the finished file back to the server.
The minimum order for any service is $25.
To prepare the final version with embedded subtitles, please provide the master copy (original quality video).
Subtitling Deadlines
To prepare the final version with embedded subtitles, please provide the master copy (original quality video).
Subtitling Deadlines
- Short film subtitles: 1–2 business days
- Feature film subtitles: 2–4 business days
Experience
Subtitled 500+ films
With over seven years of experience and more than 500 subtitled films, we’ve become one of the leading agencies for film translation and subtitling across the CIS region.
Guaranties
We deliver on time
We complete translations and subtitles on schedule. We understand what a tight deadline means and work efficiently. If we ever miss a deadline, we’ll cover the cost ourselves.
Remotely
We work worldwide
All our processes are online, allowing us to provide translation and subtitling services for clients anywhere in the world.
How to Make Subtitles for a Film
Creating professional subtitles involves three key stages, described below.
Step 1: Text Transcription
To prepare subtitles or a translation, we first need a transcript (dialogue list) of the film — including all on-screen text, captions, and titles.
If you don’t have one, we can create it by transcribing the video ourselves.
If you don’t have one, we can create it by transcribing the video ourselves.
Step 2: Translation
To prepare subtitles or a translation, we first need a transcript (dialogue list) of the film — including all on-screen text, captions, and titles.
If you don’t have one, we can create it by transcribing the video ourselves.
If you don’t have one, we can create it by transcribing the video ourselves.
Step 3: Subtitling
We import the approved translation into subtitle format, adjusting timing and phrasing for readability and compliance with international standards.
To save time, we can also combine the translation and subtitling stages into one streamlined process.
To save time, we can also combine the translation and subtitling stages into one streamlined process.
You’ll receive subtitle files in .srt format (other formats available upon request). If needed, we can also embed the subtitles directly into the video — a mandatory requirement for many film festivals.
Order Translation and Subtitles
To create the dialogue list and subtitles, we’ll need a final version of the film in viewing quality.
FAQ
We’ve gathered the most common questions — and answered them.
A preview is a compressed copy of the master film.
Typically, the preview file should not exceed 2 GB, which makes it easy for our entire team — agents, managers, translators, and subtitle editors — to work with the film.
If the film hasn’t been uploaded online yet, we recommend using Vimeo for secure password-protected video sharing.
You can also use any file-sharing service, such as dropmefiles.com (free up to 50 GB).
Just remember to set the file storage period to 14 days.
Typically, the preview file should not exceed 2 GB, which makes it easy for our entire team — agents, managers, translators, and subtitle editors — to work with the film.
If the film hasn’t been uploaded online yet, we recommend using Vimeo for secure password-protected video sharing.
You can also use any file-sharing service, such as dropmefiles.com (free up to 50 GB).
Just remember to set the file storage period to 14 days.
After viewing the film, we’ll send you a detailed estimate of the total cost.
The message will also include available payment methods and our banking details.
For projects costing up to $110, full prepayment (100%) is required.
The message will also include available payment methods and our banking details.
For projects costing up to $110, full prepayment (100%) is required.
Let’s look at the maximum production cycle — when subtitles need to be created in another language and only the film itself is provided.
If some steps (such as transcription or translation) have already been completed, both time and cost will be reduced.
Here’s the typical workflow:
1. Transcription (1–2 business days)
We transcribe the video and prepare a dialogue list (script) for translation.
2. Translation (3–7 business days)
We complete a literary translation of the dialogues and send it to you for approval.
The exact duration depends on the amount of text in the film.
3. Subtitling (2–3 business days)
After the translation is approved, we create and synchronize the subtitles (SRT file).
If required, we can also embed the subtitles directly into the film (this is often necessary for festival submissions).
The result is a new video file, identical in quality to the original, but with embedded subtitles.
Specific timelines for your project are discussed individually before work begins — that’s why it’s important for us to receive a preview copy of the film right after your application.
If some steps (such as transcription or translation) have already been completed, both time and cost will be reduced.
Here’s the typical workflow:
1. Transcription (1–2 business days)
We transcribe the video and prepare a dialogue list (script) for translation.
2. Translation (3–7 business days)
We complete a literary translation of the dialogues and send it to you for approval.
The exact duration depends on the amount of text in the film.
3. Subtitling (2–3 business days)
After the translation is approved, we create and synchronize the subtitles (SRT file).
If required, we can also embed the subtitles directly into the film (this is often necessary for festival submissions).
The result is a new video file, identical in quality to the original, but with embedded subtitles.
Specific timelines for your project are discussed individually before work begins — that’s why it’s important for us to receive a preview copy of the film right after your application.
At Festagent, all films are translated exclusively by native speakers with extensive experience in both fiction and documentary projects.
To ensure that every nuance — from national context and slang to cultural references — is conveyed accurately, our foreign translators work in close collaboration with Russian-speaking professionals.
Not all of our translators speak Russian directly, so in some cases English is used as an intermediate language during the translation process.
It’s also important to note that film translation requires proper adaptation of the text for subtitles, so our translators and subtitling editors work closely as a team to achieve the best result.
To ensure that every nuance — from national context and slang to cultural references — is conveyed accurately, our foreign translators work in close collaboration with Russian-speaking professionals.
Not all of our translators speak Russian directly, so in some cases English is used as an intermediate language during the translation process.
It’s also important to note that film translation requires proper adaptation of the text for subtitles, so our translators and subtitling editors work closely as a team to achieve the best result.
In Microsoft Word, open the Review tab (or the Tools menu in older versions, such as Word 2003), then select Word Count — the window will show the total number of characters including spaces.
You can also simply click the Word Count button on the status bar at the bottom of the Word window to see the same information.
You can also simply click the Word Count button on the status bar at the bottom of the Word window to see the same information.
First, film translation requires the translator to thoroughly watch and study the film in order to understand its full context. This ensures accurate phrasing and tone, and the time spent viewing and analyzing the film is already included in the translation cost.
Second, at Festagent, all translations into foreign languages are done exclusively by native speakers.
We realize this makes the service more expensive than if it were handled by Russian-speaking translators, but we’ve learned from experience that only native speakers can fully capture the nuances intended by the filmmaker — especially those tied to cultural context.
These subtle elements of the cultural code are often unfamiliar to foreign audiences and require careful adaptation in the subtitles to be properly understood.
Second, at Festagent, all translations into foreign languages are done exclusively by native speakers.
We realize this makes the service more expensive than if it were handled by Russian-speaking translators, but we’ve learned from experience that only native speakers can fully capture the nuances intended by the filmmaker — especially those tied to cultural context.
These subtle elements of the cultural code are often unfamiliar to foreign audiences and require careful adaptation in the subtitles to be properly understood.
Finished subtitles are provided in .srt (SubRip) format.
To watch a film with subtitles on your computer, place the .srt file in the same folder as the video file, and make sure both files have identical names — for example:
video.mp4 and video.srt.
Then, open the video in a media player that supports external subtitles (such as VLC, Media Player Classic, or similar).
The subtitles should load automatically.
You can also edit the file yourself — for instance, to replace a word or add a symbol — by opening it in Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS) as a plain text file.
Just make sure not to change the timecode markers.
Alternatively, you can upload the .srt file to a video hosting platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and attach it to the desired video.
Subtitle playback can be toggled on or off, and you can also add multiple .srt files — for example, in different languages — to the same film.
To watch a film with subtitles on your computer, place the .srt file in the same folder as the video file, and make sure both files have identical names — for example:
video.mp4 and video.srt.
Then, open the video in a media player that supports external subtitles (such as VLC, Media Player Classic, or similar).
The subtitles should load automatically.
You can also edit the file yourself — for instance, to replace a word or add a symbol — by opening it in Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS) as a plain text file.
Just make sure not to change the timecode markers.
Alternatively, you can upload the .srt file to a video hosting platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and attach it to the desired video.
Subtitle playback can be toggled on or off, and you can also add multiple .srt files — for example, in different languages — to the same film.
- Create a DCP copy of your film or video within 12 hours.
- Translating films into any language with native-speaking translators. We create subtitles according to international standards.
- We can edit or shorten your film, create a trailer, or produce a making-of film.
- We professionally design posters, logos, business cards, invitations, and film websites.
