If you want to publicly screen a film, DVD or video in a situation not covered by the special exception for classroom screenings – for example, at a film night fundraiser run by a school – you will need permission from the relevant copyright owners.
Generally, you can get permission by renting, buying or borrowing the film, DVD or video from an authorised supplier that can give you permission on behalf of copyright owners. Some of these include:
- National Film and Sound Archive
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Commercial organisations such as Roadshow PPL, Amalgamated Movies and Showbiz Music Video (for video clips)
- Roadshow Public Performance Licensing (PPL) handles most commercially and independently produced films, including films from Warner, Paramount, Universal and 20th Century Fox (but not Sony or Columbia Tri-Star).
- If Roadshow does not handle the film you are interested in, Amalgamated Movies Non-Theatrical Film Distributors may handle the rights. Amalgamated Movies handles the rights for Columbia/Tri-Star, Sony and Madman Entertainment.
Reference: Australian Copyright Council. Information Sheet: Films, DVDs & Videos: Screening in Public. Retrieved from http:// http://www.copyright.org.au/
