Screening of videos, DVDs or 16mm, either films or cartoons, outside of cinemas, in public or as a group audience requires a non-theatrical licence. Playing or showing in public a film or cartoon without the permission of the copyright owner or his nominee is an offence under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.
The offence of illegal group screenings is usually committed through ignorance of the law and takes place at premises and on transport to which the public have access, such as educational establishments, retail outlets, restaurants, coaches, oil rigs and hospitals.
Filmbank Distributors Limited
Filmbank Distributors are the copyright licensing distributor on behalf of all major film studios for the UK. Any film or cartoon hired from Filmbank is licensed for a non-theatrical screening. Non-Theatrical licences allow you to screen films before they are available in the shops.
Alternatively, the new Public Video Screening Licence (PVS) from Filmbank makes it easier for organisations in the UK to obtain just one licence each year to show films in public for no charge to fixed audiences and to transient audiences as background entertainment. Under a PVS licence, copies of films may be obtained on VHS video or DVD directly from retail or rental outlets.
Applying for Filmbank licences
Go to the Filmbank website, using the link at the right, to get more information and apply for a licence.
The licences described on this page are not issued by the Council. You should contact the relevant organisations direct. We are not able to answer enquiries about licences we do not issue.
See also the link 'Premises Licences for exhibition of films' under Related Pages, for cinemas and other public showings of films, including open air film shows, where a Premises Licence is needed from the council.
