Services for journalists

Media protocols

Applies to all releases at all times unless otherwise specified by the film distributor

For daily and weekly publications in all media (including online), film reviews are embargoed until the week of the film’s UK public cinema release.

For monthly publications, film reviews are embargoed until the latest issue prior to the film’s UK public cinema release.

If you accept an invitation to a preview screening, you accept on behalf of yourself, the publication(s) you represent and any guest(s) you may be able to bring, that you will not break the standard embargo or assist any other party to do so.

If you have any queries regarding the reviews embargo for a particular film, please contact its UK distributor.

Thank you.

Invitations and tickets to preview screenings are issued only by the individual distributor or its appointed agency. They are not available from FDA.

Normally, invitations and tickets are strictly non-transferable.

As there may be limited cloakroom facilities, please do not take baggage into the cinema. Also, please keep mobile phones switched off in the cinema (see note on security below).

If you are reviewing a film professionally, it normally goes without saying that you are expected to attend a designated screening and to watch the whole of the film, not leaving before the end.

Security

Intellectual property is a key driver of wealth creation in our economy and film distributors are determined to help ensure that the creative assets they represent are protected appropriately. This inevitably calls for the consistent application of security procedures before and during a film’s release.

These procedures are not intended to cause inconvenience to individuals attending previews in professional capacities, so please don’t be offended. Regrettably, however, such measures are commonplace, especially when a film being screened has not yet opened to the public anywhere in the world.

By attending a preview screening or premiere, you consent to the physical search of your belongings and person for recording equipment. This may extend to mobile phones that incorporate cameras.

If you attempt to enter with any audio or video recording device, you may be asked to check it in with the attending security personnel for the duration of the screening, and refused admission if you choose not to do so.

Unauthorised recording – a breach of copyright – may be reported to law enforcement and may subject the person to criminal and civil liability.

Thank you.

By attending a film premiere in the UK, members of the media accept and undertake to abide by the following code:

Premise

1) Film premieres are professional working events, funded by the distributor with the aim of launching the film in the media and to the public. Premieres held in central London often have an international profile and stature, and security arrangements will reflect this.

2) Members of the media may ask to cover a premiere, or be invited to do so by the distributor or its appointed PR agency. Distributors’ dealings with the media are conducted on the basis of good faith and mutual trust. Honesty and integrity are essential in all discussions concerning premiere access, and professional standards of conduct are required at all times at the events.

Professional conduct

3) All media in attendance must be accredited, and upon arrival on site must check in with the event organiser.

4) The person accredited to attend a premiere assumes responsibility for the conduct of his/her colleagues and/or crew at the event.

5) Event organisers will try to accommodate media requests within reason, but please log any special requests in advance of the event.

6) The safety, security and wellbeing of those attending a premiere and of members of the public must always be of the utmost importance. Members of the media must not block or restrict movement or access to and from the premiere venue. Aggressive behaviour, or any actions or insults with the potential to cause harassment, alarm or distress, may result in the perpetrator(s) being detained or arrested by the police officers in attendance.

Right to restrict future access is reserved

7) Breaches of this code will result in sanctions being considered by the individual distributor concerned. Such sanctions may regrettably include the withdrawal of 'red carpet' access at future premieres for the person and/or the production company or media outlet which they were representing.

Thank you.

For magazine, radio/TV and multi-media screenings

The sheer volume of new releases, coupled with the range of professional sectors requiring previews, makes an over-arching protocol for media screenings essential: without one, diary chaos would prevail.

All preview screenings are arranged and funded by distributors to enable designated sectors of the media to see each new film at the most appropriate possible time. Professional invitees should attend their respective screening wherever possible. Inevitably, ad hoc requirements or last minute arrangements will have to be accommodated from time to time, but it is in all parties’ best interests that this generic protocol is followed:

Distributors' application procedure

1) In order to prevent instances of clashes or double bookings, applications for media screening dates must be made to FDA by the film distributor, not by a PR agency. FDA does not publish or disclose media screening details to third parties.

2) Applications may only be made for a screening date if a release date is known (tentative dates will be accepted), and then for a screening date no more than three months ahead of the date the application is made.

3) Only one Magazine and one Radio/TV screening may be booked per film. Alternatively, one multi-media screening may be booked to cover both sectors.

4) These screenings are usually held on Monday–Friday, at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. When it is necessary to hold two screenings in one evening, a 9.00pm start is suggested for the second film. When booking a 9.00pm screening, please check the running time of the earlier film with its distributor to be sure of avoiding a possible overlap.

5) Multi-media screenings are often scheduled on Sunday mornings, usually at 10.00am for a 10.30am start. Sunday morning screenings naturally work well for family-orientated and blockbuster films.

6) Lunchtime screenings, normally at 12.30pm for a 1.00pm start, are sometimes required where evening screenings are unavailable. Whatever the start time, all screenings should be advised to FDA in advance to avoid clashes.

7) FDA should be notified of all cancellations at least three weeks prior to the proposed screening date, to enable other distributors to take up (and not to waste) the cancelled slot. When necessary, FDA operates a waiting list and cancellations will be advised only to those on that waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.

Media invitations

8) Invitations are issued solely at the discretion of the individual distributor and/or its appointed PR agency. FDA does not issue invitations to media screenings.

9) All invitations to cleared FDA media screenings must carry the FDA official screening logo device (available on request from FDA), to assist recipients in identifying it as a designated FDA screening arranged for their professional sector – which accordingly they ought to attend.

10) Although all media are asked not to attend unofficial screenings (whose invitations will not carry the FDA logo), mop-up screenings will inevitably be needed when a clash of dates or leave of absence means invitees are not able to attend on the official screening date. The mop-up screening date must follow the official media screening date, and the invitation must specify that the screening is a mop-up. Wherever possible, the preferred time for mop-ups is 12.30pm for a 1.00pm start. Care should always be taken to avoid unnecessary clashes with other media screenings.

11) When a special screening takes place prior to an FDA magazine screening (such as for exhibitors or other groups), invitations should normally be restricted to those groups and not extended to others, whose own dedicated screening(s) will follow.

12) FDA will circulate the current and following months’ FDA media screening lists to distributors every week, so that publicists may check and update their screening booking requirements.

13) Journalists and others should be aware that film reviews and features may be embargoed (please see Standard UK Embargo protocol, above). Individual distributors will advise the press of any embargo date on a film by film basis.

Thank you.

FDA contact: info@fda.uk.net.

This April 2008 issue of the protocols supersedes all previous editions.