Describe the planned use accurately
The NFB’s information distinguishes online film access from public and institutional screening contexts. Use that distinction as a starting point, not a universal legal conclusion about every film. A home subscription receipt does not, by itself, explain what another use permits.
Write down the event’s audience, venue, date and whether admission or another charge is involved. A workplace event, a classroom activity and an open community screening can raise different permission questions. The relevant provider needs the actual use, not simply a statement that a few people will watch.
Create a title-specific permission note
| Detail | Why to include it |
|---|---|
| Full title, year and filmmaker | Identifies the exact work and version |
| Venue and audience | Describes the proposed screening context |
| Date and number of screenings | Defines the requested period |
| Admission or commercial connection | Lets the distributor evaluate the actual use |
| Needed language and accessibility | Avoids clearing an unsuitable version |
Keep the provider’s written response with this note. Do not describe permission as granted while an enquiry is still pending.
Use the documented rights route
Start from the film’s own official page and the distributor’s current information. An unrelated IPTV seller or a search-engine preview is not necessarily authorized to grant public screening permission. A platform’s brand association with a film should not be stretched into a licence for any venue.
Ask about the specific format and access method. A permitted screening copy may not use the same consumer app or stream that works at home. Follow the conditions actually supplied rather than improvising a recording of the programme.
Keep the public description honest
Once permission and access are established, describe the film, organizer and any required credit accurately. Do not imply filmmaker attendance, endorsement or partnership without evidence. This is a practical permission-check process, not legal advice or a claim that every public screening follows one jurisdiction’s procedure.
Related questions
Does a working home stream prove permission for an open event?
No. Check the proposed public or institutional use with the actual rights source.
Can I call an enquiry an approved screening?
No. Wait for the relevant permission and conditions.
Sources and scope
Scope notes distinguish published documentation, supplied information and editorial methods. They do not report a hands-on service test.
