How do i get a license to enable me to show a film in a church hall?

Question

I am looking to hire a venue and show a film in a church hall for a party and I am wondering how I get the license to do so. Does anyone have any information on who to contact or who to get advice from about the license i need?

Answer 1

I am being perfectly serious here. When you contact the Local Authority be prepared for public liability insurance, health and safety and the fire service being involved. Everyone will have to be trained or hold a competant certificate to use the equipment to show the film!

Regarding the film, copyright and public display, the age certificate, suitable content.

I'm afraid the days of showing a film at a kid's party are long gone.

Believe me you see in the papers everyday with the jobsworths in the Councils now. If they can put the dampners on it they will. So just be prepared for a load of grief. It makes you think how we ever used to live in the past!

Answer 2

I run a golden oldies movie club, and we had to get a licence from the motion picture licensing corporation http://www.mplc.com/ in order to show the films to members of the public.  The licence price depended on a sliding scale of how many people you estimated would watch the films annually, and for us was about £50 if memory serves.

If you phone the number on the website, the staff there are very helpful and will advise you on what you need.

Answer 3

Ring your local Council, they are the ones in charge of licensing for this that and the other but I bet its not as simple as it used to be to get a licence because of all the new fangled health and safety issues not to mention fire regulations.

Answer 4

Contact your local council. You will also have to pass it with the committee of the church hall.

Answer 5

Yes there is a procedure to get this. Its not a Licence as Church are not a commercial place. The utmost important thing is that what kind of movie you want to show there. If it is a religious movie and doest not hamper in any way of Christanity then I think you can talk to the Father of the Church.