While working at Winona State University I put together semesterly film screenings on behalf of my public radio program. Cannibal Holocaust was among the films that I showed on campus. Based on my experience scheduling and hosting these events and my experience as an educator, here are some suggestions for organizing public screening events. These suggestions are primarily geared toward colleges and universities but they may also apply to community groups and other organizations.

Secure the Right Venue

It’s important to find the right place for your screening. Reserving the venue is usually the first thing you’ll want to do.

To state the obvious, show films in a location that has a decent projector and sound system and comfortable seating. Make sure the equipment is in good working order and compatible with your source (35mm film or Blu-ray disc, for example). Streaming is dependent on the availability of Wi-Fi so it’s best to use a physical source. (You’ll probably get better picture and sound quality this way too.) If you are on a college campus and the screening is scheduled on a weekend or at an unusual hour, make sure the building is open and accessible.

It’s also important to find a location that is isolated. Show the film behind closed doors rather than in an open area where pedestrians might pass through. This is relevant to any screening (it minimizes distractions) but it is especially important for Cannibal Holocaust and films like it. This movie has imagery that’s potentially shocking and it’s rude to show those images in public where passersby might be unwittingly exposed to it.

Respect the Copyright

You must acquire the public viewing rights to screen any copyright protected film. This is both a matter of law and a matter of ethics. There are distributors who specialize in working with college campuses and other non-theatrical entities.

If you are interested in screening Cannibal Holocaust, contact Grindhouse Releasing.

Don’t Ask for Permission (If You Don’t Have To)

Respect the institution and its property. If you’re showing a film in the student union or a community venue, work with the staff to reserve an event space and observe institutional rules and applicable laws.

That said, college campuses are full of red tape strung up by a surplus of administrators. Bypass these people if you can. Remember, if you ask permission to screen a film then you inherently give that person or department control over your event. And given the reputation of Cannibal Holocaust, the last thing you want is for administrators and committees butting into the process and debating the merits of your program. Quietly secure public viewing rights and the screening space before making a public announcement.

Rationalize Your Program

Before going ahead with a screening of Cannibal Holocaust, or anything else, ask yourself why you are showing this film. Is it simply entertainment or cinema appreciation? Do you want to give viewers a chance to see a cult film? Those are good enough reasons for a screening but given the content of Cannibal Holocaust and the fact that the movie is likely to upset people, it’s a good idea to prepare a rationalization. Write up a short statement that defines why you are showing the film. Consider what you want viewers to get from it and what you hope to accomplish.

Writing a rationalization is also important to defending your screening if that becomes necessary. It is entirely possible that community members are going to ask why you are showing the film. This is a fair question so be prepared with a good answer. If you are programming for a college campus, consider a rationale that is consistent with the mission of the institution. As my book Dissecting Cannibal Holocaust demonstrates, the content and themes of the film are applicable to a variety of fields. Furthermore, higher education is supposed to embody the marketplace of ideas. However any one of us may feel about Cannibal Holocaust, the film offers a lot to discuss.

Build an Educational Framework

It’s enough to just show the film. That’s the main attraction and anything else is a bonus. But if you are already going through the effort of putting together a public screening, you might as well take the extra few steps to build an educational program around the film. This might as simple as a guided discussion or a guest speaker. It might be more passive in the form of handouts or online material. You can get more elaborate but considering that a film will already take up ninety to 120 minutes of your audience’s evening it’s best to keep this brief.

In the case of Cannibal Holocaust, an educational component will validate your rationalization and make the event defensible against those who might challenge it. Discussions or speakers can also help viewers process what they’ve seen.

One more note about your educational framework: this does not necessarily mean apologizing for the content of the film. Opinions of Cannibal Holocaust vary even among viewers who love horror films and it is not necessary for anyone to like or approve of the film to get something out of the screening. Indeed, viewers might come away despising the film and the decisions of its makers but that can be turned into an educational opportunity if the time is taken to explore why viewers feel that way.  

Prepare Your Audience

I am not an advocate of trigger warnings. They don’t work and tend to prejudice the audience’s response to the film. That said, be honest with the audience. Prepare them for what they are about to see in your marketing materials and perhaps with an introduction at the event. This way viewers make an informed choice as to whether they want to submit to this film or not.