Information For Planning A Film / TV Screening

If you want to put on a film screening, there are two areas of licensing to consider:

Film copyright licensing – the licence to screen the particular film title(s) you wish to show, required for all screenings outside the home.

Premises licensing – the licence for the activity of screening a film to the public, required ONLY if you aim to generate a profit from tickets being sold.

ON CAMPUS SCREENING

Neither the SU nor the University have a Copyright licence to show films / shows, therefore if you are using any of our / university spaces for your activities then your group must purchase a Copyright licence before showing films or shows to your members. Even if you aren’t charging members to watch the tv or film screening, a licence must still be purchased.

The SU building and University spaces do have a Premises licence to show films, however you need to purchase Copyright licenses in addition for the act of showing of the specific films / shows.

You can find more information out about the requirements for showing films & tv shows on the Government website. The website also includes a link to the Independent Cinema Office with more guidance too on Copyright and Premises licences, so please look over these before screening anything to your members.

You can also use the below websites to search for the film(s) / show(s) that you’re wanting to show and purchase the licence through them. Just to note: a licence must be bought for each individual screening too.

Your booking will be cancelled if you cannot prove you have purchased a copyright licence at least a week prior to the event date.

As a copyright licence is not required for films being screened inside the home, you do not require a licence to watch a film or tv programme with a small contingent of group members in your room in a halls of residence or your home, besides a TV Licence.

OFF CAMPUS SCREENING

If you are attending an event as group activity which is arranged by a venue (e.g. a sports screening, a cinema etc), then it is the responsibility of the venue to ensure they have the correct licensing in place.

If you are the organiser of an event at a venue which includes a screening, you will need to speak to the venue to find out what licences they currently hold, what they are willing to obtain (and if there is a charge) and what you will need to provide. If a venue is found to be streaming shows or films without relevant licensing then heavy fines and loss of business may occur, so it is important to check these details to ensure you are not putting yourselves, the SU and other businesses at risk.

For any issues relating to accessing the links above, please get in touch here.