Movie Night FAQs

Click here to book your movie night.

Movie Night FAQs

How much work is involved in planning an outdoor movie event?

When you work with us, not much at all! You'll need to handle the venue booking and discuss with them any specific requirements they may have, as well as film licensing for public screenings. We'll handle pretty much everything else (equipment, delivery and setup, teardown, etc.). We have plenty of experience running this movie night event and can guide you along the way.

Do I need a film license to play a movie in my backyard?

You do not need a license to play a movie in your backyard / on your private property. Film licenses are only required for "public performances". A public performance is a showing of a movie outside of a private dwelling (house, apartment, cottage) or to a public audience.

What is a film license?

When you screen a film to a public audience, you must be granted express permission from the rights holder in the form of a Public Performance Movie License. There are two major non-theatrical film distributors in Canada that we work with for public film licensing.

Are film rights included?

No, film rights are not included with your rental. We will help you to acquire a film license if you wish. It is your responsibility to ensure that proper licensing is handled for your event. 

How much do film rights cost?

Depending on a number of factors, film licenses are charged by distributors either as a flat fee, or as a flat fee + a percentage of profits. The cost of a license is typically $350-$450 + HST per film screening. If you are selling tickets or concessions, you may be required to report sales and pay an overage fee to the distributor. For example, you may owe the studio 35% of ticket sales and cash donations after recouping the license fee.

What movies can I screen?

For private, backyard screenings, you can play any films you'd like. 

For public events, browser our distributors' websites for film ideas and availability: Criterion Pictures, Audio Ciné Films Inc.

We will happily recommend some of the most popular and upcoming titles!

Do I have to buy a DVD/blu-ray or can I stream it?

For public events involving a film license, you will need to use a DVD or blu-ray copy of the film. This is a requirement of film licensing bodies.

For private, backyard events, you can stream the film if you'd like. If you choose to stream a movie, you will need to connect to your own streaming accounts. Depending on your subscription account, you may experience connectivity issues (for example, if your subscription level limits the number of screens you can connect to your account, it might not work on the projector). 

That said, we do recommend using a hard copy of the movie for the best viewing experience regardless of location. Streaming can lead to low-quality graphics or buffering/lagging, and is highly dependent on your internet connection.

Can I advertise my public movie night?

Advertising restrictions may apply. For example, studios may have an advertising policy that you are required to follow within your license. Some restrictions might include no radio, TV, newspaper, or community paper ads. They may also restrict flyers or posters on bulletin boards, poles, bus shelters, and storefront windows. Typically it is acceptable to advertise the event on your website and social media pages. These guidelines widely vary by studio. 

How dark does it have to be for outdoor movies?

We can start playing movies outdoors at dusk. The screen is most clear when it's dark outside. You can check a website like Sun Today to check when it's dusk. 

Do we need to get insurance? Or security?

This will depend on the venue where you plan to show the film. We recommend contacting the property owner or venue manager directly to discuss insurance and security requirements. As the provider of screening equipment, we can ensure that our equipment is fully insured. 

What if it rains or there are high winds? 

We cannot operate our Movie Night setup outdoors in inclement weather. We recommend having a large indoor venue available as backup to avoid disappointment. If that is not possible, we will issue a rain check.