The Federation subscribes to the Arts Law Centre of Australia to provide legal advice to AFSF members — real legal support, not just general guidance.
Two Services Available
- Telephone Legal Advice — a lawyer gives general legal advice without reviewing any documents. Estimated turnaround: 2–3 weeks.
- Document Review Service — a lawyer reviews your documents (e.g. contracts) and gives specific advice. Estimated turnaround: 4 weeks.
Access to this service must go through the Federation — get in touch if you’d like to use it.
Other Common Legal Questions
Does my film society need a constitution?
Not unless you want one, though we recommend it. A constitution is necessary if you ever want to become an incorporated association, and most state fair trading departments (e.g. NSW Fair Trading) supply a model constitution to adapt.
Does my film society need to be incorporated, or registered as a not-for-profit?
No to both — you can operate as a film society without either. Incorporation gives your group its own legal identity, worth looking into via your state’s business registration body once you’ve grown past the very early stage; not-for-profit registration is optional and depends on whether the specific benefits apply to your group.
Screening rights and copyright
Screening a film anywhere outside your own home requires permission from the Australian distributor who holds the rights — see our Screening Rights & Copyright page for the full explainer.
Public liability insurance
You don’t need it to function as a society, and many venues already carry cover that extends to you — but some venues will insist on your own. See our 60 Questions guide for current recommended providers and pricing.
This page is general information for AFSF member societies and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.