Film Screening Rights and Conditions
Would you like to include a Slovenian film in the programme of a cinema, festival, school, association or other organisation? Films are copyrighted works and part of intellectual property. Their screening therefore depends not only on whether a film is available online, on DVD or through another digital platform, but also on the rights that determine who may use it, in what way and under what conditions.
Permission to use a film is granted by the rights holder. For more recent films, this is most often the production company that produced the film, although screenings may be handled on its behalf by a distributor. The distributor helps bring the film to audiences, arranges screenings, and provides suitable screening copies and accompanying materials.
The fact that a film is available on a streaming platform or another website does not in itself mean that it may be shown to pupils, members of an association, event attendees or another group of viewers. Before organising a screening, it is therefore necessary to determine whether it constitutes a public screening or a private viewing, who manages the rights to the selected film, and which conditions must be met for the screening to take place.
Public Screening
As a rule, any organised viewing of a film outside a private or family setting is considered a public screening, regardless of whether admission is charged or free of charge.
This includes, for example, screenings in cinemas, schools, libraries, associations, cultural centers, at festivals and other events. Before the screening takes place, permission must be obtained from the rights holder or distributor. They determine where and how the film may be shown, so their authorisation is required for any screening outside the private sphere.
Private Viewing
A private viewing takes place in a personal or family setting and is not organised as an event for a wider audience.
Purchasing or renting a DVD, accessing a film on an online platform, or having a personal subscription to a streaming service generally permits private viewing only. These do not in themselves include permission for a public screening.
How to Obtain Public Screening Rights
Contact the Rights Holder or Distributor
Different organisations, such as a distributor, producer or another rights holder may manage rights to individual films.
If you are unsure whom to contact, send us the film details. We will direct you to the appropriate contact or check whether the Slovenian Film Centre distributes the film.
Agree on the Screening Terms
Provide the rights holder with as much information about the screening as possible:
- the date and location of the screening,
- the name of the organiser and venue,
- the expected number of viewers,
- whether admission will be charged or free of charge.
Based on this information, the authorisation, the period and geographical scope of use, and the screening fee are determined.
Confirm the Screening and Technical Requirements
Once the terms have been confirmed, agree on the screening copy and delivery method. The film may be available as a DCP, a digital file or on another medium.
Before the event, check:
- the image format and resolution,
- the audio format,
- the language and subtitles,
- how the copy will be collected or transferred,
- the technical requirements for secure playback in the case of an online screening.
Before the Screening, Also Check
Depending on the film and the agreement, you may also be required to:
- use approved stills, a poster or a trailer,
- include the required logos and credits in promotional materials,
- report the number of attendees after the screening,
- pay the agreed screening fee,
- return or securely delete the screening copy,
- comply with restrictions on recording, onward distribution or online transmission.
Typical Use Cases
The process of obtaining screening rights depends on the type of organiser, venue, and screening format. Check which information you need to prepare for your particular case.