Q. How do I show a film on campus?

Films are protected by copyright, so showing them publicly requires permission from the film's copyright holder.  This permission almost always costs money.  When you buy permission to show a film, you are buying a public performance license - it's an agreement between you and the copyright holder that says you are allowed to show their film publicly on a certain date for a certain amount of money.

Getting a price quote/Ordering a Public Performance license

You don't have to commit to purchasing a public performance license right away. It's perfectly fine to ask for a price quote and then consult with your group. Follow these steps to get a quote or purchase a public performance license:

1. Have the facts about your event prepared. Most companies will ask at least some of these questions:

• What film do you want to show?
• What date will you show the film?
• How many people do you expect to attend? (rough estimate)
• Will you advertise outside of campus?
• Are you charging admission?

2. Determine the film's publisher. Depending on where you look, the publisher might also be referred to as the distributor or studio. You're looking for the company responsible for putting the film on screens in theaters, releasing the DVD, or making the film available on a streaming platform. It isn't necessarily the same company that actually created the film.

3. Determine if the publisher works with a vendor. Most major publishers outsource public performance rights work to another company.

Criterion Pictures (1-800-890-9494) They represent films from: 20th Century Fox (any Fox company)

Swank Motion Pictures, Inc. (1-800-876-5577) They represent films from:

• Buena Vista
• Columbia
• Disney
• Hollywood Pictures
• Live Entertainment
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Miramax
• MGM/UA
• New Line Cinema
• Paramount Pictures
• Sony
• TriStar
• Triumph
• Touchstone Pictures
• United Artists (UA)
• Universal
• Warner Brothers

Kino International (1-212-629-6880) They represent films from titles under their own label: Kino Video, Kino Lorber.

If your film's publisher doesn't work with the above vendors, you'll need to search online for a way to contact the publisher directly. If the film is a documentary, try searching the title first. Many documentaries have their own web page with contact information. If your film doesn't have its own page, search for the publisher to find their contact information.

If you are calling the publisher/vendor, they might ask for information like state, zip code, and organization. It isn't uncommon to get a representative's voicemail; just leave your phone number and email address along with what you're requesting (price quote or public performance license) and the information from step 1. They usually respond within the same day.

If you are emailing the publisher, give them as much information as you can: organization, what you are requesting (price quote or public performance license), and the information from step 1.

When ordering a public performance license, keep in mind that vendors handle billing differently. They might send an invoice in the mail, or they might send an email with a PayPal link. Be prepared to give them the contact information for the person paying the bill.

How much does it cost to show a film?

It usually costs between $200 - $450 to purchase a public performance license. The price will vary depending on the film's publisher, how new or popular the film is, and how many people are expected to attend the screening. Some companies also offer to lend a screening copy of the film for an additional $20 - $40 charge. These costs are paid for by the campus group or office that is hosting the screening.

Do all films shown on campus need a public performance license?

Short answer - yes. Professors do not need permission to show a film to their students during class, but any other event where a film is being shown requires a public performance license. However, the library owns films that are already cleared for public performance. These films are identified in the catalog with a note: CLEARED FOR CAMPUS PUBLIC PERFORMANCE. A keyword search of that phrase will find you a list of those films.

Can I show a Netflix film?

For most films, no. Commercial streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon don't usually deal in public performance licenses. However, Netflix does make exceptions for certain original documentaries that they produce. See their Educational Screenings of Documentaries page for details.

Can I show a film from one of the library's streaming services?

Musselman Library subscribes to several streaming services. You can find all of them on the Films Online guide. Each streaming service handles public performance rights differently.

• Academic Video Online - All films* in this collection include limited public performance rights, which includes permission for classroom showings as well as on-campus or in-library public screenings, as long as no admission is being charged.
  • *Excluding Sony Pictures Classics, and National Theatre titles.  National Theatre titles can be used in classroom or lecture room for teaching purposes.
• Feature Films for Education - Classroom screening are permitted, but any non-curricular showings require a separate public performance license. 
• Films on Demand - Most films in this collection come with public performance rights, but not all. The user is responsible for verifying if the film has PPR via these instructions. 
• Kanopy - Films that come with public performance rights are identified with a "PPR" symbol. 
• Swank Digital Campus - Classroom screenings are permitted, but any non-curricular showings require a separate public performance license