{"id":13,"date":"2026-09-07T08:27:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T06:40:44","slug":"resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13","title":{"rendered":"Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap afsf-lede wp-block-paragraph\">Every guide, explainer and reference the Federation publishes, in one place \u2014 sorted alphabetically by default, or by most recently published.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"afsf-resources\" data-afsf-resources>\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resources__controls\">\n\t\t\t<label class=\"afsf-field afsf-field--search\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"afsf-field__label\">Search Resources<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search by name, topic or keyword&hellip;\" data-afsf-resources-search \/>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"afsf-btn afsf-btn--outline afsf-az-toggle\" data-afsf-resources-sort>Sort: A&ndash;Z<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"afsf-resources__section-title\">Headlining Articles<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resources__grid afsf-resources__grid--headline\" data-afsf-resources-grid>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card afsf-resource-card--headline\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=68\" data-title=\"16mm Projectionist&#039;s Manual\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"16mm projectionist&#039;s manual the full 2013-edition manual: chapters, procedures and reference sheets. the federation&#039;s 2013-edition 16mm projectionist&#039;s manual \u2014 a compilation of everything a projectionist needs to get started and keep going. it&#039;s arranged in roughly the order things happen in practice, and works both as a first-time introduction and as an ongoing reference. this technical information is basic and generic \u2014 for your specific equipment, you may also need your projector&#039;s own handbook. if you get stuck, get in touch. start here &amp; the eight chapters start here (pdf)download chapter 1: film (pdf)download chapter 2: how it works (pdf)download chapter 3: procedures (pdf)download chapter 4: competencies (pdf)download chapter 5: troubleshooting (pdf)download chapter 6: do this, don&#039;t do that (pdf)download chapter 7: preventive maintenance (pdf)download chapter 8: resources (pdf)download miscellaneous reference sheets grouped by topic \u2014 click any heading to expand. lamps &amp; lenses lamp substitutes (pdf)download lamp suppliers (pdf)download lamp tables (pdf)download lamps (part 1) (pdf)download lamps (part 2) (pdf)download lamps (part 3) (pdf)download lamps (part 4) (pdf)download lamps (part 5) (pdf)download lenses (pdf)download porthole glass (pdf)download film stock &amp; preservation film stock guide (pdf)download film stock definitions (pdf)download kodak film stock dating (pdf)download negative, positive &amp; reversal stock (pdf)download colour fade (pdf)download vinegar syndrome: discussion (pdf)download vinegar syndrome: overview (pdf)download vinegar syndrome: treatment (pdf)download film preservation organisations (pdf)download formats &amp; aspect ratios 16mm aspect ratio (pdf)download 35mm aspect ratios &amp; formats (pdf)download cinemascope (pdf)download technicolor (pdf)download screen size tables (pdf)download projector care &amp; procedures changeovers (pdf)download rewinding (pdf)download servicing film prints (pdf)download projection practices (pdf)download film cleaning &amp; lubrication (pdf)download suppliers &amp; manufacturers british bell &amp; howell (pdf)download projector manufacturers (pdf)download projector parts suppliers (pdf)download projector index (pdf)download home cinema (pdf)download background &amp; reference jan background (pdf)download jan background information (part 1) (pdf)download jan background information (part 2) (pdf)download jan background information (part 3) (pdf)download us national film registry (pdf)download \u2190 back to 16mm equipment\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">16mm Projectionist&#039;s Manual<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">The full 2013-edition manual: chapters, procedures and reference sheets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card afsf-resource-card--headline\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=72\" data-title=\"How to Use Facebook for Your Film Society in 68 Questions\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"how to use facebook for your film society in 68 questions a practical, question-by-question guide to running your facebook page, group and events properly. facebook is free to use, it does not require anyone on your committee to learn how to build a website, and it is where many of your current and future members already spend some of their time. what follows is everything a film society needs to know about using facebook, written for people who may use facebook personally but have never had to run a page, group or event. we assume you have no money, not much time and fewer volunteers than you would like. this guide describes facebook as it works in july 2026. facebook changes its menus regularly. if a button is not where we say it is, it has probably moved rather than disappeared. part 1 \u2014 why use facebook why should our film society be on facebook? because it helps with three problems that every film society has, and it can do so without adding another bill: telling your members what is on \u2014 facebook lets you publish a reminder, a change of venue or a last-minute notice immediately, unlike a printed program that can be lost or go out of date. finding new members \u2014 word of mouth is the most effective, inexpensive promotion a film society has, and facebook extends it: when a member shares your post, their friends see your society even if they never knew about it before. keeping the society alive between screenings \u2014 facebook gives you somewhere to continue the conversation after the lights come up and before the next screening begins. there is a fourth reason: a society with no online presence is difficult for a newcomer to find. facebook will not show every post to every follower, and it should not replace your email list or printed program \u2014 it&#039;s one part of your publicity, but a useful part. is facebook still worth it if our members are mostly retirees? yes \u2014 in fact, that&#039;s one of the strongest reasons for choosing facebook. you should use the service your members and likely members already understand, not the service that happens to be fashionable with people you&#039;re not trying to reach. australian research has consistently shown facebook remains important to older users: the esafety commissioner reported 65% of australians aged over 72 used facebook, and datareportal figures put facebook&#039;s advertising reach at 82.8% of australian adults at the end of 2025. your members&#039; adult children, friends and neighbours may see the page too, and are often the people who notice a screening announcement and pass it on. what can facebook do that our website can&#039;t? a website waits for people to visit it. facebook can put a reminder in front of people while they&#039;re looking at other things: a post may appear in a follower&#039;s feed without them remembering to look for your society. a member can share a post with friends, send it in messenger, or mention another person in a comment. people can ask a question and get an answer in the same place, or tell you a link is broken. you can publish a correction immediately \u2014 no waiting to edit the website or print another flyer. a page can be managed by more than one committee member, with scheduling and basic statistics. it&#039;s designed for phones, so most people can read it without fighting a menu built for a computer. this does not mean facebook is better than a website at everything \u2014 a website is better for permanent information, complete programs, membership forms and policies. if you already have a website, keep it, and use facebook to lead people towards it. what can&#039;t facebook do for us? it cannot become the whole society. six limitations to understand before you depend on it: you don&#039;t own it \u2014 meta controls the service and can change a menu, remove a feature, restrict a page or lock a volunteer out of their account. it does not deliver every post to every follower \u2014 following a page means somebody may receive its posts, not that they will. it&#039;s a poor filing cabinet \u2014 new posts push old posts down the page. it does not replace email \u2014 some members do not use facebook, and your email list is the only audience list the society controls. it&#039;s not th\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">How to Use Facebook for Your Film Society in 68 Questions<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">A practical, question-by-question guide to running your Facebook Page, Group and Events properly.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card afsf-resource-card--headline\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=18\" data-title=\"Legal Help for Your Film Society\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"legal help for your film society free legal advice for afsf members via the arts law centre of australia. the federation subscribes to the arts law centre of australia to provide legal advice to afsf members \u2014 real legal support, not just general guidance. two services available telephone legal advice \u2014 a lawyer gives general legal advice without reviewing any documents. estimated turnaround: 2\u20133 weeks. document review service \u2014 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 \u2014 get in touch if you&#039;d like to use it. contact the federation 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 \u2014 you can operate as a film society without either. incorporation gives your group its own legal identity, worth looking into via your state&#039;s business registration body once you&#039;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 \u2014 see our screening rights &amp; copyright page for the full explainer. public liability insurance you don&#039;t need it to function as a society, and many venues already carry cover that extends to you \u2014 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.\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Legal Help for Your Film Society<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">Free legal advice for AFSF members via the Arts Law Centre of Australia.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card afsf-resource-card--headline\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=14\" data-title=\"Screening Rights &amp; Copyright\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"screening rights &amp; copyright what screening rights are, and why every public screening needs them. when you buy a movie on dvd, you also buy the right to screen it at home \u2014 on your tv or in your home cinema, with as many friends around as you like, as often as you like. public screenings need different rights to screen a movie in a public place \u2014 just about anywhere that isn&#039;t your home \u2014 you need to buy the commercial, or &quot;theatrical&quot;, screening rights from the distributor who owns them. these entitle you to screen the film in a public venue and charge admission. theatrical rights can cost hundreds of dollars for a single screening, and over a thousand for a major title \u2014 distributors guard them fiercely, and screening without permission can lead to expensive legal consequences. australian film societies can access special &quot;non-theatrical&quot; screening rights at lower than commercial rates \u2014 but first you need to satisfy distributors that you&#039;re a genuine film society, not just trying to gain an unfair advantage over cinemas that pay full commercial rates for their venues, licences and overheads. to qualify, a group must: be a not-for-profit organisation. have a membership of at least five members who pay a subscription entitling them to participate in the society&#039;s activities. admit only members and their guests to screenings. not charge for admission to screenings. afsf membership means you&#039;ve already demonstrated this to us once \u2014 after that, distributors accept our accreditation as their guarantee, so you don&#039;t need to re-prove it every time you contact a new one. dvd &amp; blu-ray copyright, in detail can i screen a dvd or blu-ray in public? not without permission from the copyright holder. under australian copyright law, a &quot;public place&quot; includes anywhere the public can meet \u2014 church halls, meeting rooms, and so on. it doesn&#039;t include a private home screened to a few friends with no money involved, but advertising a home screening turns it into a public event. how do i get permission? contact the australian distributor who manages the copyright for the film and ask for &quot;screening rights&quot;. if you can&#039;t locate the rights holder, you can&#039;t screen the film \u2014 see our where to get films page for distributor contacts. all film societies are eligible for a discount as long as they can establish they&#039;re not-for-profit and run non-theatrical screenings (no door charge, members only) \u2014 being a registered afsf member is the easiest way to assure a distributor of that. can i use a dvd hired from a video store? no \u2014 screening a hired disc is illegal and carries significant penalties. you can screen any disc you&#039;ve purchased legally (it doesn&#039;t need to be owned by the society, though it can become part of your library if you do), and distributors such as amalgamated and roadshow can also supply discs to rent if you don&#039;t already own a copy. always get permission to screen before you buy. what happens once i have permission? once you&#039;ve found the distributor, made contact and completed their formalities, they&#039;ll send you an approval to screen the film \u2014 at that point you can start publicising it. where to get films our real, current list of australian distributors, plus the nfsa lending collection and notes on streaming. view distributors &rarr; join for member discounts registered afsf member societies are eligible for discounted screening rights through our affiliated distributors. join the federation &rarr;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Screening Rights &amp; Copyright<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">What screening rights are, and why every public screening needs them.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card afsf-resource-card--headline\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=17\" data-title=\"Sixty Questions on Starting and Running a Film Society\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"sixty questions on starting and running a film society what a film society is, and sixty real answers on how to start and run one. a film society (or film club, or film group) is a non-profit cultural organisation formed to encourage the appreciation of cinema, both as an art and as a medium of information and education, by showing films, discussing them, and sharing information about cinema with its members. the five criteria a film society must meet to affiliate with the afsf, a film society must: be a not-for-profit organisation. have members, with screenings for members only. not charge for entry to single screenings at the door \u2014 membership must cover at least three screenings. have an organising committee of at least five people: a president, secretary and treasurer, plus two other committee members. hold screenings in an enclosed area where only members can see them. work through at your own pace grouped by topic below. this is the federation&#039;s real, practical guide \u2014 the same one we&#039;ve refined over years of helping new societies get off the ground. getting started why do people start a film society? because bringing people together to see a film provides a benefit their community wouldn&#039;t otherwise have: affordability \u2014 watching films as a group without paying commercial cinema prices. choice \u2014 independent, foreign or non-mainstream films that a local commercial cinema won&#039;t screen. connections and community \u2014 bringing people together socially, especially where they might otherwise be isolated. promoting film culture \u2014 bringing world cinema, film history and debate to a local audience. availability \u2014 many societies operate in small or remote towns hours from the nearest cinema. atmosphere \u2014 a warm, friendly environment where every member feels welcome. a family activity \u2014 something the whole family can enjoy together. simply loving film, and wanting the chance to share it. do i need to start a film society in order to show films? no. if forming a society isn&#039;t the right fit for your circumstances, there are other options: the roadshow blanket &amp; co-curricular licence (around $360\/year, aimed at caravan parks, buses, retail and waiting rooms); the big studio movie licence (for religious institutions and aged care\/retirement facilities, covering disney, sony, paramount, mgm, 20th century fox and roadshow titles); or a one-off commercial screening licence from a distributor if you want to charge the public \u2014 typically a minimum guarantee of $250\u2013$275 against 30\u201335% of ticket sales, whichever is greater. see our where to get films page for distributor contacts. do i have to call my organisation a film society? no \u2014 many groups call themselves a film club or film group, and name themselves after their town, their umbrella organisation, or a favourite film. legal &amp; structure does my film society need to have a constitution? not unless you want one, though we recommend it \u2014 a constitution is a statement of aims and rules the members agree to follow, and it&#039;s a prerequisite if you ever want to become an incorporated association. most state fair trading departments (e.g. nsw department of fair trading) supply a model constitution to adapt. does my film society need to be incorporated? no, you can function as a film society without incorporating. incorporation gives your group its own legal identity separate from individual committee members \u2014 worth investigating via your state&#039;s business registration body (e.g. asic) once you&#039;ve grown past the very early stage. are film societies not-for-profit groups? yes. a not-for-profit doesn&#039;t operate for the personal gain of particular people, though it can still make a surplus \u2014 as long as that surplus goes back into the organisation&#039;s purpose (new equipment, another member service, or a reserve for future problems). does my film society need an australian business number (abn)? not unless your income exceeds $150,000 a year. if you do want one, apply via the australian business register \u2014 describe your entity as a &quot;company&quot; \/ &quot;other unincorporated entity&quot;, your main activity as &quot;film&quot; \/ &quot;film distribution&quot;, and the \">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Sixty Questions on Starting and Running a Film Society<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">What a film society is, and sixty real answers on how to start and run one.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"afsf-resources__section-title\">More Resources<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resources__grid\" data-afsf-resources-grid>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=19\" data-title=\"16mm Projection Equipment\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"16mm projection equipment where to buy, sell and find information on legacy 16mm gear. although most film societies now use dvd players and digital projectors, some still use 16mm projectors \u2014 and information on how to find, use and dispose of this equipment is getting harder to come by. this page collects what we know as a resource for you. 16mm projectionist&#039;s manual how to operate and maintain a 16mm projector \u2014 the full 2013-edition manual, chapters and reference sheets, real downloadable pdfs. open the manual buying or selling 16mm equipment a handful of organisations and specialist marketplaces regularly turn up 16mm equipment for sale or trade: reel deals \u2014 a quarterly subscription magazine (mike trickett, 245 church st, herne hill vic 3218) carrying advertisements for films and equipment; one page of advertising is free to subscribers. reeldeals.com.au cine collectables fair \u2014 run yearly by the cinema and theatre historical society at seddon, vic 3011. contact: caths@caths.org.au sydney camera market \u2014 three events a year at stanmore, nsw 2048. sydneycameramarket.com.au australian photographic collectors society \u2014 a bi-annual market at box hill town hall, vic 3128. apcsociety.com.au canberra photographic collectors society \u2014 photographic.collectors@gmail.com rodney movie and film supplies \u2014 chiltern, vic 3683. rodneymfs@hotmail.com need equipment advice? contact the federation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">16mm Projection Equipment<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">Where to buy, sell and find information on legacy 16mm gear.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=71\" data-title=\"Constitution of the AFSF\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"constitution of the afsf how the federation is governed. in the interests of accountability and transparency, the federation publishes its constitution here. afsf constitution, with agm amendments to 24 october 2015 (pdf)download what the constitution covers the objects and purpose of the federation. membership: eligibility, affiliation and fees. the executive committee: roles, election and terms. the annual general meeting: delegate entitlements, notice periods and voting. finances and the financial year. how the constitution itself can be amended. questions about governance? contact the federation about the federation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Constitution of the AFSF<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">How the Federation is governed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=73\" data-title=\"Contact Us\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"contact us get in touch with the federation. have a question about starting a society, screening rights, or anything else? send us a message and a member of the executive committee will get back to you. [afsf_contact_form] other ways to reach us email: info@ausfilm.org.au follow the federation on facebook for updates from member societies around the country. facebook read our privacy policy\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Contact Us<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">Get in touch with the Federation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=69\" data-title=\"Federation AGMs\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"federation agms president&#039;s reports from every afsf annual general meeting since 2015. the federation is committed to being transparent and democratic, and encourages every member to be involved in its workings. each member society is entitled to send two delegates to the agm, and every meeting offers zoom facilities for delegates who can&#039;t attend in person. for groups unable to send a delegate, here is the president&#039;s report from every agm since 2015. 2024 federation agm 2023 federation agm 2022 federation agm 2021 federation agm 2020 federation agm 2019 federation agm 2018 federation agm 2017 federation agm 2016 federation agm 2015 federation agm about the agm the executive committee is elected each year at the agm, to which every member society is entitled to send two delegates. see the constitution for full detail on delegate entitlements and voting. read the constitution\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Federation AGMs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">President&#039;s reports from every AFSF Annual General Meeting since 2015.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=16\" data-title=\"How to Find a Distributor &amp; Ask for Film Screening Rights\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"how to find a distributor &amp; ask for film screening rights how to identify who holds a film&#039;s screening rights and get in touch with them. contacting the owner of a film&#039;s screening rights is a problem every film society runs into sooner or later. if no one holds the rights, or the rights holder can&#039;t be found to give permission, you can&#039;t screen the film \u2014 so tracking them down is worth doing properly. who holds the rights the people who own screening rights are usually the australian distributor or the producer: if you have the dvd or blu-ray case, the rights holder is generally the studio or production company named on the cover. if the production company is obscure, search the film&#039;s title at classification.gov.au \u2014 the distribution company holding the australian screening rights is listed as the applicant. other sources ezydvd imdb if you&#039;re willing to spend around $250 a year, an imdbpro subscription gives you access to the producer of a film and who distributes it in each country \u2014 imdbpro offers a 30-day free trial if you want to test it first. once you&#039;ve found them make contact directly \u2014 see our australian film distributors list for contact details. they&#039;ll send you an approval to screen the film, and from there you can start publicising it. australian film distributors contact the federation\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">How to Find a Distributor &amp; Ask for Film Screening Rights<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">How to identify who holds a film&#039;s screening rights and get in touch with them.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"afsf-resource-card\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=15\" data-title=\"Where to Get Films\" data-date=\"2026-09-07 08:27:48\" data-search=\"where to get films australian distributors, the nfsa lending collection, and streaming explained. film societies get their films two main ways: through an australian film distributor, or by borrowing a 16mm print from the nfsa&#039;s lending collection. a growing number of groups have also started accessing certain titles from netflix. if a film society can demonstrate it&#039;s not-for-profit, subscription-based, and doesn&#039;t charge for admission, it&#039;s eligible for the concessional film-society rate with any of the distributors below \u2014 amalgamated, roadshow, madman and many others all offer one. australian distributors the pricing below was confirmed directly with each distributor and published following the federation&#039;s 2023 outreach \u2014 rates now vary distributor to distributor, so it&#039;s worth checking here before assuming a flat rate. if anything below is out of date, let us know. roadshow entertainment the largest distributor in australia, agent for around 25 studios including 20th century fox, buena vista\/walt disney, dreamworks, mgm, miramax, paramount, pixar, universal, village roadshow, warner brothers and united artists. supplies dvds at $11 each if you don&#039;t own a copy. screening permission (2024\/25 rates): $55+gst for groups of 25 or fewer, $75+gst for 26\u201350 members, $100+gst for 51\u2013100 members. contact: michael firmani, michael_firmani@roadshow.com.au \u2014 roadshowppl.com.au (catalogue: ppl.roadshow.com.au\/films). amalgamated movies the second-biggest distributor, with the largest 16mm range in australia, and agent for madman, sony, columbia, tristar, screen gems, ronin films and lime light distribution. afsf members pay $60 for a 16mm print ($35 rights + $25 postage); dvd screening rights run on a sliding scale \u2014 $75 for 1\u201380 members, $120 for 81\u2013120, $150 for 121\u2013150. dvd rental postage is currently $5 by regular post. contact (head office \/ qld, vic, tas, nt, wa, sa): steve snell, (07) 4787 1086, stevens@amalgamatedmovies.com. contact (nsw): lorraine paton, 0425 293 030, lorrainepaton1@bigpond.com \u2014 amalgamatedmovies.com. accent film entertainment screening fee: $50+gst per screening. contact: peter campbell, +61 412 203 373, info@accentfilm.com \u2014 accentfilm.com. antidote films basic rate of $50+gst for groups under 50 members (plus dvd\/postage if required), rising to $150+gst for audiences up to 100. happy to work with societies on the right balance of quality and affordability, and can supply promotional image assets or list your screening on their own site and social media. contact: admin@antidotefilms.com.au \u2014 antidotefilms.com.au (also streams via watchantidotefilms.com.au). film art media screening permission: $165 gst inclusive. contact: sue maslin, sue@filmartmedia.com (cc daryl@filmartmedia.com) \u2014 filmartmedia.com. hi gloss entertainment a catalogue of mostly italian and french cinema and feature documentaries. screening permission: $50. contact: andrew goode, info@highglossentertainment.com.au (urgent afternoon calls: 0466 993 254) \u2014 higlossentertainment.com.au. maslow entertainment film-society pricing is decided case by case \u2014 get in touch directly. contact: marc wooldridge, 0423 607 140, marcwooldridge@maslowentertainment.com \u2014 maslowentertainment.com\/films. palace films pricing available on request. contact: tony zrna, 03 9816 1717 or 0402 181 016, tony.zrna@palacefilms.com.au \u2014 palacefilms.com.au. park circus discounts for film societies (as well as their commercial rate) are decided case by case. contact: chris smith, chris.smith@parkcircus.com or aunz@parkcircus.com \u2014 parkcircus.com. pivot pictures access pivot pictures titles by contacting roadshow entertainment (above). pivotpictures.com.au \/ facebook.com\/pivotpics. ponder entertainment brings asian cinema to australia and new zealand (currently hong kong titles). sliding scale: $75 for 1\u201380 members, $120 for 81\u2013120, $150 for 121\u2013150, negotiable above 151. contact: cecily, info@ponder.productions \u2014 ponder.productions. potential films (formerly chapel distribution.) the australian distributor of rko titles. screening rights: $55. contact: mark spratt \u2014 ema\">\n\t\t<div class=\"afsf-resource-card__top\"><\/div>\n\t\t<h3 class=\"afsf-resource-card__title\">Where to Get Films<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__excerpt\">Australian distributors, the NFSA Lending Collection, and streaming explained.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resource-card__date\">7 September 2026<\/p>\n\t\t<span class=\"afsf-resource-card__more\">Read More &rarr;<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<p class=\"afsf-resources__empty\" data-afsf-resources-empty hidden>No resources match that search.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every AFSF guide and reference page in one place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>AFSF Resources | Guides &amp; Reference for Film Societies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Browse every AFSF guide and reference page in one place, sorted alphabetically or by most recent, with a search to find what you need fast.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AFSF Resources\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Every guide, explainer and reference the Federation publishes \u2014 searchable, and sorted alphabetically or by most recently published.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Australian Film Societies Federation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-08T06:40:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/australianfilmsocietiesfederation_customlogodesign_opt1-2-big-logo.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"211\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?page_id=13\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?page_id=13\",\"name\":\"AFSF Resources | Guides & Reference for Film Societies\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-07T08:27:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-08T06:40:44+00:00\",\"description\":\"Browse every AFSF guide and reference page in one place, sorted alphabetically or by most recent, with a search to find what you need fast.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?page_id=13#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?page_id=13\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?page_id=13#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Resources\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/\",\"name\":\"Australian Film Societies Federation\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Australian Film Societies Federation\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/afsf-logo.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/afsf-logo.webp\",\"width\":300,\"height\":211,\"caption\":\"Australian Film Societies Federation\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ausfilm.org.au\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"AFSF Resources | Guides & Reference for Film Societies","description":"Browse every AFSF guide and reference page in one place, sorted alphabetically or by most recent, with a search to find what you need fast.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"AFSF Resources","og_description":"Every guide, explainer and reference the Federation publishes \u2014 searchable, and sorted alphabetically or by most recently published.","og_url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13","og_site_name":"Australian Film Societies Federation","article_modified_time":"2026-09-08T06:40:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":300,"height":211,"url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/australianfilmsocietiesfederation_customlogodesign_opt1-2-big-logo.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13","url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13","name":"AFSF Resources | Guides & Reference for Film Societies","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-09-07T08:27:48+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-08T06:40:44+00:00","description":"Browse every AFSF guide and reference page in one place, sorted alphabetically or by most recent, with a search to find what you need fast.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?page_id=13#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Resources"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/","name":"Australian Film Societies Federation","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#organization","name":"Australian Film Societies Federation","url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/afsf-logo.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/afsf-logo.webp","width":300,"height":211,"caption":"Australian Film Societies Federation"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":208,"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ausfilm.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}