Amazon Prime Video Delivery Guide: Specs, Rejections, and How to Avoid Them

Delivering your film to Amazon Prime Video can be more complicated than it looks. Many indie filmmakers assume that exporting a high-resolution ProRes file is enough — but Amazon has specific technical requirements, and subtle mistakes can get your film rejected.

This guide walks you through the exact specs Amazon Prime expects — and how to deliver with confidence.

This post is for filmmakers, editors, and post supervisors preparing to submit their film or series to Amazon Prime Video through Prime Video Direct, aggregators, or direct distributor partnerships.

1. Amazon Prime Video’s Preferred Technical Specs

When delivering directly or via aggregators, Amazon commonly requests the following:

✅ Video Specs:

• Codec: Apple ProRes 422 HQ or XDCAM HD422

• Container: QuickTime .mov or MXF

• Resolution: 1920x1080 (HD) or 3840x2160 (UHD)

• Bit Depth: 10-bit preferred

• Frame Rate: Native, consistent throughout

• Color Space: Rec.709, gamma 2.4

✅ Audio Specs:

• Format: PCM (uncompressed)

• Sample Rate: 48kHz

• Bit Depth: 24-bit

• Channels: Stereo (L/R) or properly mapped 5.1 surround

✅ Captions/Subtitles:

• Format: .srt with accurate timecode and UTF-8 encoding

• Language Tags: Required for each locale (EN, DE, JP, etc.)

• Burned-in Subs? Not required (and not preferred)

2. Common Reasons Amazon Rejects Film Deliveries

Amazon’s QC is notoriously rigid. Here’s what gets films flagged:

❌ Gamma Mismatch

• Delivered file appears too dark or washed out.

• This usually happens when working in Rec.709-A instead of Rec.709 gamma 2.4.

❌ Inconsistent Audio Mapping

• Channels not assigned properly (e.g., dual mono instead of stereo).

• Incorrect channel labeling in XML or MXF metadata.

❌ Subtitle Encoding Errors

• .srt files must be UTF-8 encoded.

• Amazon may reject files containing special characters or line breaks that aren’t escaped properly.

❌ Interlaced Video

• Amazon requires progressive footage. Interlaced (even by accident) is an automatic rejection.

3. ProRes vs. XDCAM — Which One Should You Use?

Amazon allows both Apple ProRes and XDCAM. Here's how to choose:

Format	Use Case
ProRes 422 HQ	Best for direct upload via Prime Video Direct
XDCAM HD422	Often required when going through distributors or for broadcast versions

💡 When in doubt, deliver ProRes — it's higher quality and more flexible.

4. Subtitle Guidelines That Won’t Get You Rejected

Amazon supports both external timed text and burned-in subtitles — but prefers the former for flexibility across languages.

Recommended:

• .srt files in UTF-8 format

• Proper language tagging

• Subtitles synced exactly to final master

  
  

⚠️ Don’t upload a subtitle file that doesn't match your frame rate — it will cause sync issues on playback and may be rejected.

5. Suggested Export Settings for DaVinci Resolve (or Adobe Premiere)

Here’s a safe export setup for Amazon Prime Video HD delivery:

• Format: QuickTime

• Codec: Apple ProRes 422 HQ

• Resolution: 1920x1080

• Frame Rate: Match source (e.g., 23.976)

• Color Space: Rec.709 (gamma 2.4)

• Bit Depth: 10-bit

• Audio: 48kHz, 24-bit PCM, stereo

  
  

✅ Want to make sure your export passes QC? We can double-check your file for compliance.

6. How to QC Before Uploading

Before submitting your file to Amazon (or your distributor), do this:

• Watch the final ProRes file on a calibrated monitor

• Run audio through a channel scope or metering tool

• Use MediaInfo to check encoding details (bitrate, chroma subsampling)

• Test .srt subtitle sync on VLC

💡 Professional aggregators will do their own QC — but if you fail first, your rep or placement may be delayed.

7. What Happens After You Upload

Once submitted:

• Your film enters Amazon’s automated QC phase (can take 2–5 days)

• If approved, you’ll get scheduling and territory control options

• If rejected, you’ll receive cryptic notes like “frame rate mismatch” or “audio out of spec”

Conclusion: Deliver Right the First Time

Amazon Prime Video wants great content — but they expect great technical quality too. That starts with understanding the specs, catching issues before submission, and delivering a clean, professional master.

If you’re unsure about your export or want someone to handle it for you...

👉 Get a Quote — We specialize in post-production delivery that passes Amazon’s QC.

✍️ About the Author

Written by Mark Ledbetter, founder of Testament Productions. He’s helped dozens of indie filmmakers get their films accepted to Amazon, festivals, and streaming platforms without the usual rejection headaches.