Alternative Titles Submission Guide

The web interface provides a very easy to use and convenient interface to the IMDb additions system. Please click the button labelled "Update" near the bottom of every IMDb name/title page to access that interface. This page describes how to update alternative title information directly via e-mail; it also provides an explanation for the formats generated by the web updates system.

We recommend all contributors use the web based update system and avoid the complexities of the direct email interface described below.

Addition of new data not yet in the database

1. mark the start of a block of alternative movie title additions with the keyword:
   

   AKA

   This keyword is written at the beginning of a new line. It is all upper case and it is the only word on that line.
   


2. for each alternative title you want to define to a primary title include on one separate line an entry consisting of four fields separated by the delimiter | (pipe character). The line has the form:
   
   primary title|new alternative title|country-language attribute|title-type attribute
   where:

   primary title is the original title of a movie in its original language (see titles submission guide for details). It is important that you spell this title exactly as it is already stored in the database.
   

   alternative title is the alternative title you want to add. Please pay attention to the following issues:

   • Make sure your new alternative title is really new and not already in the database with a slightly different spelling or year. If it is and you are positive your version is the correct version, mail in the necessary corrections instead (see below).
   • You can mail in alternative titles to primary titles for all countries and languages as long as these are authentic titles that have been publically used (see below for all the different types of titles acceptable).
   • Alternative titles are formatted like primary titles. They use the same labels, language specific capitalisation rules and handling of leading articles. The character set you have to use is ASCII and ISO-8859-1 depending on the data. If the data has accented characters such as äöñàé... you must use the ISO-8859-1 character set for West European languages! Data mailed in with it MUST be MIME compatible encoded with 'quoted printable'. No direct 8bit data, please, since many mail systems still drop these characters silently. For details consult the additions guide for titles.
   • Just as with original titles please add the year of first public screening of the movie using this title (which may be different from the year in the primary title). If the title is identical with another title in the database but does not refer to the same film, please add a Roman numeral (I,II,III,IV,...) after the year to make the title different.
   • If an alternative title is identical with its primary title (which simply means that the film had the same title in country X as in the original country) use the year of the primary title even if it is not the year the film was first shown in country X.
   • Similarly, if there are identical alternative titles for the same primary title, use the earliest year among them for the whole bunch independent of the individual release dates in the different countries.
   • Don't write more than 72 characters on the same line. If you need more characters you can continue a line of data by adding a \ at the end of the line in your editor and continue on the next line.

   country-language attribute is the field where you must define the country and sometimes also the language of your alternative title. The current set of legal attributes is as follows:

   Legal country-language attributes

   (Afghanistan)	(Albania)	(Algeria: Arabic title)	(Algeria: Berber title)
   (Algeria: French title)	(Andorra: Catalan title)	(Andorra: French title)	(Andorra: Spanish title)
   (Angola)	(Argentina)	(Armenia)	(Asia: English title)
   (Australia)	(Austria)	(Azerbaijan)	(Bangladesh: Bengali title)
   (Bangladesh: English title)	(Belarus)	(Belgium: English title)	(Belgium: Flemish title)
   (Belgium: French title)	(Belgium: German title)	(Benin: Dendi title)	(Benin: Fon title)
   (Benin: French title)	(Benin: Mina title)	(Benin: Yoruba title)	(Bolivia)
   (Bosnia: Croatian title)	(Bosnia: Serbian title)	(Botswana: English title)	(Botswana: Khoisan title)
   (Botswana: Tswana title)	(Brazil)	(Bulgaria: Bulgarian title)	(Bulgaria: Turkish title)
   (Burkina Faso)	(Burma)	(Burundi: French title)	(Burundi: Kirundi title)
   (Burundi: Swahili title)	(Cambodia)	(Cameroon: Bantu title)	(Cameroon: English title)
   (Cameroon: French title)	(Cameroon: Sudanic title)	(Canada: English title)	(Canada: French title)
   (Cape Verde: Creole title)	(Cape Verde: Portuguese title)	(Central African Republic: French title)	(Central African Republic: Sangho title)
   (Chad: Arabic title)	(Chad: Bantu title)	(Chad: French title)	(Chile)
   (China: Cantonese title)	(China: Mandarin title)	(Colombia)	(Congo: Bantu title)
   (Congo: French title)	(Costa Rica)	(Croatia)	(Cuba)
   (Cyprus: Greek title)	(Cyprus: Turkish title)	(Czech Republic)	(Czechoslovakia: Czech title)
   (Czechoslovakia: Slovak title)
   (Denmark)	(Djibouti: Arabic title)	(Djibouti: French title)	(Dominican Republic)
   (East Germany)	(Ecuador)	(Egypt: Arabic title)	(Egypt: Berber title)
   (Egypt: English title)	(Egypt: French title)	(Estonia)	(Ethiopia)
   (Europe)	(Europe: English title)	(Finland)	(France)
   (Gabon: Bantu title)	(Gabon: Fang title)	(Gabon: French title)	(Georgia)
   (Germany)	(Ghana: English title)	(Ghana: Fanti)	(Ghana: Ga)
   (Ghana: Hausa)	(Ghana: Twi title)	(Greece)	(Greenland)
   (Guatemala)	(Guinea-Bissau: Creole title)	(Guinea-Bissau: Portuguese title)	(Guinea: French title)
   (Guinea: Manika title)	(Guinea: Soussou title)	(Guyana: English title)	(Guyana: Hindi title)
   (Guyana: Mandarin title)	(Guyana: Portuguese title)	(Haiti: Creole title)	(Haiti: French title)
   (Honduras)	(Hong Kong: Cantonese title)	(Hong Kong: English title)	(Hungary)
   (Iceland)	(India: Assamese title)	(India: Bengali title)	(India: Bhojpuri title)
   (India: English title)	(India: Gujarati title)	(India: Hindi title)	(India: Kannada title)
   (India: Malayalam title)	(India: Marathi title)	(India: Oriya title)	(India: Punjabi title)
   (India: Rajasthani title)	(India: Tamil title)	(India: Telugu title)	(India: Urdu title)
   (Indonesia: Bahasa title)	(Indonesia: English title)	(International: English title)
   (Iran: Arabic title)	(Iran: English title)	(Iran: Farsi title)	(Iran: Kurdish title)
   (Iran: Turkish title)	(Iraq)
   (Ireland: English title)	(Ireland: Irish title)	(Israel: Arabic title)	(Israel: Hebrew title)
   (Italy)	(Ivory Coast)	(Jamaica: Creole title)	(Jamaica: English title)
   (Japan)	(Japan: English title)	(Jordan)	(Kazakstan)
   (Kenya: English title)	(Kenya: Swahili title)	(Korea)	(Kuwait: Arabic title)
   (Kuwait: English title)	(Kyrgyzstan)	(Laos: French title)	(Laos: Lao title)
   (Latvia)	(Lebanon: Arabic title)	(Lebanon: English title)	(Lebanon: French title)
   (Lesotho: English title)	(Lesotho: Sesotho title)	(Liberia)	(Libya: Arabic title)
   (Libya: Italian title)	(Liechtenstein)	(Lithuania)	(Luxembourg: French title)
   (Luxembourg: German title)	(Macedonia)	(Madagascar: French title)	(Madagascar: Malagasy title)
   (Malaysia: English title)	(Malaysia: Malay title)	(Malaysia: Mandarin title)	(Malaysia: Tamil title)
   (Mali)	(Malta: English title)	(Malta: Italian title)	(Malta: Maltese title)
   (Mauritania: Arabic title)	(Mauritania: French title)	(Mauritius: Creole title)	(Mauritius: English title)
   (Mauritius: French title)	(Mexico)	(Moldova)	(Monaco)
   (Mongolia)	(Morocco: Arabic)	(Morocco: French title)	(Morocco: Spanish title)
   (Mozambique: Bantu title)	(Mozambique: Portuguese title)	(Namibia: Afrikaans title)	(Namibia: Bantu title)
   (Namibia: English title)	(Nepal)	(Netherlands)	(New Zealand: English title)
   (New Zealand: Maori title)	(Nicaragua)	(Niger: French title)	(Niger: Fulani title)
   (Niger: Hausa title)	(Nigeria: English title)	(Nigeria: Hausa title)	(Nigeria: Ibo title)
   (Nigeria: Yoruba title)	(North Korea)	(North Vietnam)	(Norway)
   (Pakistan: English title)	(Pakistan: Punjabi title)	(Pakistan: Pushtu title)	(Pakistan: Sindhi title)
   (Pakistan: Urdu title)	(Panama)	(Papua New Guinea)	(Paraguay: Guarani title)
   (Paraguay: Spanish title)	(Peru)	(Philippines: English title)	(Philippines: Spanish title)
   (Philippines: Tagalog title)	(Poland)	(Portugal)	(Puerto Rico)
   (Romania)	(Russia)	(Rwanda: French title)	(Rwanda: Swahili title)
   (Saudi Arabia)	(Scotland: English title)	(Scotland: Gaelic title)	(Senegal: French title)
   (Senegal: Fulani title)	(Senegal: Mende title)	(Senegal: Wolof title)	(Serbia)
   (Seychelles: Creole title)	(Seychelles: English title)	(Seychelles: French title)	(Singapore: English title)
   (Singapore: Malay title)	(Singapore: Mandarin title)	(Singapore: Tamil title)	(Slovakia)
   (Slovenia)	(Somalia: Arabic title)	(Somalia: English title)	(Somalia: Italian title)
   (Somalia: Somali title)	(South Africa: Afrikaans title)	(South Africa: English title)	(South Korea)
   (Soviet Union: Georgian title)	(Soviet Union: Kirghiz title)	(Soviet Union: Russian title)	(Soviet Union: Ukranian title)
   (Soviet Union: Uzbek title)	(Spain)	(Spain: Basque title)	(Spain: Catalan title)
   (Spain: Galician title)	(Sri Lanka: English title)	(Sri Lanka: Sinhala title)	(Sri Lanka: Tamil title)
   (Sudan: Arabic title)	(Sudan: English title)	(Suriname: Dutch title)
   (Suriname: Hindi title)	(Suriname: Javanese title)	(Swaziland: Afrikaans title)	(Swaziland: English title)
   (Swaziland: Siswati title)	(Swaziland: Zulu title)	(Sweden)	(Switzerland: French title)
   (Switzerland: German title)	(Switzerland: Italian title)	(Switzerland: Romansh title)	(Switzerland: Swiss German title)
   (Syria: Arabic title)	(Syria: Armenish title)	(Syria: Kurdish title)	(Syria: Turkish title)
   (Taiwan)	(Tajikistan)	(Tanzania: Bantu title)	(Tanzania: English title)
   (Tanzania: Swahili title)	(Thailand: English title)	(Thailand: Malay title)	(Thailand: Thai title)
   (Togo: French title)	(Trinidad And Tobago)	(Tunisia: Arabic title)	(Tunisia: French title)
   (Turkey: Kurdish title)	(Turkey: Turkish title)	(Turkmenistan)	(UK)
   (UK: Gaelic title)	(USA)	(USA: Spanish title)	(USA: Yiddish title)
   (Uganda: English title)	(Uganda: Swahili title)	(Ukraine)	(United Arab Emirates: Arabic title)
   (United Arab Emirates: English title)	(Uruguay)	(Uzbekistan)	(Venezuela)
   (Vietnam)	(Wales: Welsh title)	(West Germany)	(Yemen)
   (Yugoslavia: Croatian title)	(Yugoslavia: Macedonian title)	(Yugoslavia: Serbian title)	(Yugoslavia: Slovenian title)
   (Zaire: French title)	(Zaire: Swahili title)	(Zambia: Bemba title)	(Zambia: English title)
   (Zambia: Tonga title)	(Zimbabwe: English title)	(Zimbabwe: Sindebele title)

   
   
   

   title-type attribute is the field where you can define the nature of the title. Doing so is encouraged if you know the specific nature of a title. Don't guess though. The currently valid set of title-type attributes is as follows:

   Legal title-type attributes

   (16mm release title)	(16mm rental title)	(3-D video title)
   (Berlin film festival title)	(English translation of Yiddish alternative title)	(English translation of working title)
   (LD title)	(MIFED title)	(TV title)
   (US version)	(Venice film festival title)	(X-rated version)
   (YIVO translation)	(abbreviated title)	(alternative spelling)
   (alternative transliteration)	(announced title)	(armed forces circuit title)
   (cable TV title)	(censored intended title)	(censored version)
   (changed title)	(closing credits title)	(complete title)
   (copyright title)	(cut version)	(director's cut)
   (dubbed version)	(fake working title)	(festival title)
   (first copies title)	(first episodes title)	(first screenings title)
   (first six reels)	(first title)	(first version title))
   (informal English alternative title)	(informal English title)	(informal alternative title)
   (informal alternative translation)	(informal literal English title)	(informal reissue title)
   (informal short title)	(informal title)	(intended title)
   (last season title)	(literal English title)	(literal English translation of Japanese working title)
   (literal English translation of Russian working title)	(literal title)	(longer version)
   (modern translation)	(new title)	(non-modified Hepburn romanization)
   (original script title)	(original title)	(orthographically correct title)
   (original Cyrillic KOI8-R title)	(original Greek ISO-8859-7 title)	(original Ukrainian ISO-8859-5 title)
   (pilot title)	(poster title)	(première title)
   (preview title)	(previous title)	(promotional abbreviation)
   (promotional title)	(proposed title)	(racier version)
   (recut version 1975)	(redubbed English version)	(reissue title)
   (repeat compilations title)	(rerun title)	(restored version)
   (review title)	(second copyright title)	(second part title)
   (second season title)	(second version title)	(series title)
   (short title)	(short version)	(shortened film festival program title)
   (shorter version)	(silent version)	(six-reel release title)
   (subtitle)	(summer title)	(syndication title)
   (theatrical title)	(third season title)	(title for episodes with guest hosts)
   (title without logo)	(trailer title)	(unconfirmed)
   (video box title)	(video catalogue title)	(video title)
   (weekend title)	(working title)

   Attributes not in the above sets will be rejected by the mail server. If you think that your attribute can not be replaced by an existing attribute and is missing, please mail in a comment for the alternative title section (see below).

3. Mark the end of your data with the word:

   END

   on a separate line, if you are finished with this e-mail. Otherwise continue adding other types of data with their own keywords and formatting rules.

4. Mail the data to adds@imdb.com. The mail-server will check your data and mail a receipt back to you. If it finds incorrectly formatted data or other problems it will include them together with explanations so you can correct them and mail the data in again. Rejections must be corrected and mailed in again or your data will not be processed. Warnings merely suggest that there might be a problem, but data is accepted and will be processed. Don't expct your data to be on line before a week has passed since it was accepted, but it can take longer. If you never get a receipt your mail has not reached us. Please try again.

5. Examples:

   AKA
   A doppia faccia (1969)|Gesicht im Dunkeln, Das (1969)|(West Germany)|
   Annie Hall (1977)|Anhedonia (1977)|(USA)|(working title)
   Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933)|Lazy Bones (1953)|(reissue title)
   Lady and the Monster, The (1944)|Tiger Man (1949)|(USA)|(reissue title)
   Vsadniki (1939)|Guerilla Brigade (1942)|(USA)|
   Angels in the Outfield (1994)|Angels (1995)|(UK)|
   Blaue Hand, Die (1967)|Bloody Dead, The (1998)|(USA)|(video title)|
   Carnival Circus (1978)|First & Only Unicorn City Combined Kids Carnival \
   Circus Is Coming Soon to Your Local Neighborhood, Neighborhood: Tickets \
   Now at Box Office: Live Menagerie! Talent Audition! Come Early for Early, \
   The (1978)|(USA)|(complete title)|
   END
   

Deletion of data already in the database

AKA
!primary title|new alternative title|country-language attribute|title-type attribute

For example:

AKA
!Letzte Mann, Der (1924)|Last Love, The (1924)|(USA)|

You can add the correct entry at the same time:

AKA
!Letzte Mann, Der (1924)|Last Love, The (1924)|(USA)|
Letzte Mann, Der (1924)|Last Laugh, The (1924)|(USA)|

Correction of data already in the database

TITLECORRECT
old primary title|new primary title|

For example:

TITLECORRECT
Sicilian Clan, The (1969)|Clan des Siciliens, Le (1969)|

For example:

TITLECORRECT
Frau uber bord (1945)|Frau über Bord (1945)|

CORRECT

Addition of new attributes and general comments

COMMENT-AKA

keyword and explain yourself with free text on as many of the following lines as you need.