Frequently Asked Questions

• What is FILMCLUB and how can I join?

  FILMCLUB is an education charity, no. 1136558. If you'd like to support FILMCLUB, please email support@filmclub.org

   

  If you'd like to join us: the scheme is free to state funded schools in England although your school is responsible for ensuring it has a Public Video Screening Licence (PVSL), the cost of which is dependent on the size of your school. If you are an independent school or non-school setting (and not funded by the DfE), the cost of joining FILMCLUB is £495 per annum plus the cost of your PVSL.

   

  If you sign up to FILMCLUB, we will invite you to come along to an induction where you will be guided through how to set up a club in your school by one of our school support coordinators. This will include a session about what types of films we have on our website, how to keep students engaged as well as how to use our website and get your students registering and writing reviews.

   

  It's also a chance to get some more information about how to use the facilities that you have to the best of your advantage. The equipment used varies from school to school - some use interactive whiteboards, large TVs or a projector and screen in bigger venues. That again depends on what types of facilities you have in your school. In terms of funding, we can't fund you for large pieces of equipment but can advise you how to use what you already have. You also get to take away from the induction a pack of posters and membership cards for your students.

• What can I do if I've forgotten my password?

  If you have forgotten your username or password all you need to do is go to the LOGIN button and click on the link Forgot Username or Password and enter the email you registered with.
  
  You will then receive an email containing a link which you can follow to reset your password. If you don't receive this email, check your junk folder or Contact Us

• How do I choose films?

  The main place to find films on the website is Our Films. Here you can search through our collections: Seasons, Themes, Just Great Movies or browse through the whole catalogue by clicking on the Browse link
  
  Our FILM WORLD online magazine also has weekly features about great movies both new and old that are packed with recommendations and suggestions, as well as coverage of new DVD releases.
  
  Or if you know what it is you're after you can just use the basic search box, enter the title - and hopefully we'll have it available.
  
  We also recommend films for you based on your past orders, you can find these in the Recommended column on Manage My Films
  

• How do I sign up my members to filmclub and how do they write reviews?

  Your members sign up to FILMCLUB with the Club Code which you can find on your club page Manage My Club 
  
  You need to be logged in to see these pages.
  
  The Club Code always begins CC and is found underneath the map.
  
  When your members have the Club Code they musty go to the LOGIN button and enter the code in the field marked Got a Club Code?
  
  They will then be asked for some details: Title, first name, last name, date of birth, gender.
  Then they must create a unique username and password
  Then click on the button JOIN FILM CLUB
  They will then be taken straight to their very own club page.
  
  Members can then write reviews straight from there, as there will always be a list of the films they have watched.
  
  Or by finding the film by browsing the film catalogue and clicking on the link Write ReviewIf you have forgotten your username or password all you need to do is go to the LOGIN button and click on the link Forgot Username or Password and enter the email you registered with.
  
  You will then receive an email containing a link which you can follow to reset your password. If you don't receive this email, check your junk folder or Contact Us
  

• How do I order films?

  To order films you need to be logged in.
  
  You can now order films by searching for the films you wish to screen and then clicking on the green order link
  
  There are special categories of films to help you decide which films to screen, including FILMCLUB Recommends, Themes, Seasons and Just Great Movies.
  
  If you have any problems selecting your films, please do let us know via Contact Us we will be happy to recommend films suitable for your age group. See also How do I choose films?

• How do we get the films we choose?

  Once you have ordered your films they will be posted out to the leader of the club by our partners LOVEFiLM (as long as the film is currently in stock).
  
  Once you have watched them use the envelope provided to send them back.

• What if the film I want is not on the FILM CLUB website?

  If the film you want isn't here, it's likely it is either an 18 certificate (which we do not make available to our members) or is not currently available on DVD in the UK.
  
  But if there's a film that you think should be available to FILMCLUB members through our site and isn't, please do let us know via the Contact Us form.

• How can I add a new leader to my club?

  For a new leader to join your club they must go to the JOIN FOR FREE NOW button and follow the sign-up process.
  
  When they have set up a username and password they will reach a page giving the option of Joining An Existing Club.
  
  They will then have to input the post code of the club they want to join and then await confirmation by email from the main leader of the club that they are accepted.

• How do I announce a screening to my members?

  Log in, and on your 'My FILMCLUB' page, click 'Announcements' in the black header.

  This will take you to a brand new page called 'Manage announcements.' Click on 'New Screening'. The 'Create screening' box below will appear.

  

  (Click the image or here to enlarge this image and see the full 'Create screening' box.)

  
  

  In the 'Film title' box, start writing the name of the film you'll be screening, and click on the correct film title from the dropdown box that appears as you type. Add a tagline to get your members interested, and all other screening details, plus a description, and click 'Save'.

  You can create, edit or remove all your screenings and announcements on your 'Manage announcements' page.

• How do my members see details of future film screenings at my club?

  Once you have created a screening announcement (see the FAQ 'How do I announce a screening to my members') your members will see the next film screening, and all the details you included, on their 'My FILMCLUB' page in the 'Coming soon to my club' box:

  

  (Click the image or here to enlarge the image and see how your members will see future screenings announced on their page.)

  Your members will also see past film screenings in their 'Reviews I have to write' box, and 'Recent films watched at my club' box, and a summary of any other future screenings and announcemements in their 'Stuff happening at my club' box.

• How do I announce a screening to my members but keep the film title a secret?

  Just create the screening announcement as usual (see the FAQ 'How do I announce a screening to my members') but when you are filling in all the details, make sure you tick the 'Secret screening' box.

  Your members will still see all the details except the film title - so be cryptic in your tagline and description!

  

  Click the image or here to enlarge the image and see how your members will see any 'secret' screenings.

  The film title will be revealed to your members after the date of the screening has passed.

• Can I set up a second filmclub in my school?

  You can set up a second filmclub in your school for a different age group by contacting your coordinator or emailing us via the Contact Us form.

• What is an induction and who needs to attend?

  At the FILMCLUB induction you will be guided through how to set up a club in your school by one of our School Support Coordinators.
  
  This will include a session about what types of films we have on our website, how to keep students engaged as well as all the search tools and film information on our site and getting your students registering and writing reviews. It's also a chance to get some more information about how to use the facilities that you have to the best of your advantage.
  
  At the induction you will meet many other teachers in your area, receive a detailed information booklet, The Power of Film DVD as well as a pack of posters, membership cards and lanyards for your students. A teacher or teaching assistant will need to attend an induction but sixth-form helpers are also welcome and encouraged to attend so they can help run your film club.

• My school is not state-funded, can we join FILMCLUB?

  Yes you can.
  
  The FILMCLUB service is available to youth clubs and independent schools thoughout the UK. There is an annual fee of £495.
  
  If you would like more information please use the Contact Us form

• I run a youth group, can I join FILMCLUB?

  Yes you can.
  
  The FILMCLUB service is available to youth clubs and independent schools thoughout the UK. There is an annual fee of £495.
  
  If you would like more information please use the Contact Us form
  
  
  

• If I am not in a participating school, can I use the FILMCLUB website?

  Yes, you can use the areas of the website we have made available to non-members - but you can't order films, set up a club or write reviews.
  

  
  

• What equipment do we need?

  Ideally you will have a DVD player, a projector, a screen, and a sound system suitable for groups. If you need to discuss any technical issues, please get in touch with us.

• What do the film classifications mean?

  'U' - It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a 'U' film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. Videos classified 'Uc' are particularly suitable for pre-school children.

  'PG' - Parental Guidance - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

  '12/12A' - Suitable for 12 years and over. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

  '15' - Suitable only for 15 years and over. No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video or DVD.

  "E" - indicates that the distributor believes the work to be exempt from classification.

  Under the Video Recordings Act 1984, a video is an exempted work if it is designed to inform, educate or instruct; is concerned with sport, religion or music; or is a video game.

  However, if such a work, including video games, depicts human sexual activity or gross violence to any significant extent it will need a BBFC classification. In addition, video games which contain "linear" material (that is video footage) also have to be classified by the BBFC. The E symbol is not an official symbol and does not have any legal standing. Nor is it a requirement that it should appear on video cassettes, unlike the BBFC classification symbols. Under the Video Recordings Act, the onus is on the distributor to decide whether or not a video work is an exempted work, and distributors have tended to put an E symbol on tapes as guidance to the public. The BBFC does not examine exempted works and does not decide whether or not a work is exempt.
  

  You can find advice on films from other parents on the Parents BBFC website
  

  If you need any further guidance on classification generally, or about a single film in particular, please Contact Us.

• Can I be sure that my students will not be exposed to bad language in reviews?

  All reviews are screened for inappropriate language by an automated filter as they are uploaded. This filter picks up and blocks over 100 common swear words unfortunately the inventiveness of many children's minds means they can come up with swear words we've never heard before, we do try and keep up but inevitably some will get through.
  
  If you see something offensive please report this to us at support@filmclub.org
  
  In addition to this, our team of Schools Coordinators read all new reviews once a week to select Reviewers of the Week and to generally monitor the review section of the site.
  
   Any language likely to cause offence is removed immediately.
  

• Can you add new films to the site on request?

  We do receive a lot of requests to add films to the site but unfortunately we can't always satisfy these requests however if you would like to email your suggestion to support@filmclub.org it will be forwarded to the film programming team.

• I have a schedule of films I would like to show. Can you guarantee which films will be delivered next?

  Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee which title you will receive next as this is dependent on LOVEFILM's stock levels. However, you can prioritise your orders by visiting your order list and clicking on view all. Here you can mark your films as low, medium or high. If you are very keen to show a specific film, do let us know by emailing support@filmclub.org and we may be able to send a copy from the office library.
  

• I've lost my return envelope. Can I still send my films back?

  All you need to do is pop the films into an envelope and send them back to LOVEFILM free of charge to:
  
  FREEPOST RRAZ-ZJJS-XESH
  LOVEFiLM UK Limited
  Peterborough
  PE2 6UG

• What does the licence cover?

  The PVS licence covers films screened on the school premises listed on the PVS certificate screened to students from that school. Staff from that school are covered by the licence to help out at the club as well as a couple of adult helpers who might be parents or volunteers.

• I am a parent at the school, can I run the filmclub on their behalf?

  You are very welcome to run the club as a parent but you will need the support of the Head Teacher which includes a copy of our FILMCLUB agreement signed by them.

• What do I do if any of the LOVEFiLM DVDs are faulty?

  We recommend trying DVDs as soon as they arrive, and if they are faulty, tick the appropriate box on the envelope and send them back. When LOVEFiLM receives a faulty disc, they will send you a new film and take the damaged DVD out of circulation. If the time frame is too tight for you to receive a new DVD from LOVEFiLM then please contact your coordinator - they will be able to send you a title from our own library to tide you over.

• Can I charge an entry fee for my filmclub or organise one as a fundraiser?

  Unfortunately, due to the terms of the licence you are not allowed to charge for entrance to the film club. However, some clubs charge a nominal fee for drinks and snacks.

• My school has a Public Video Screening (PVS) licence. Will I need any other licence to screen my films?

  Your school may be approached by other licensing organisations but provided your school holds a valid PVS licence for the current year, you are covered to screen the films listed on the FILMCLUB website.
  
  

• What do I do if the films on MANAGE MY FILMS don't match what we have at school?

  We work very closely with our partner LOVEFiLM to ensure that you have three films at any time, with up to six a month. On occasion a film may not make it to your school so please do let us know! You can either contact your coordinator through the website or you can email support@filmclub.org and we can sort things out for you.
  
  Please do note though that if you have recently told us that films are missing, it can take up to two months for this to show on your films page - but you can rest assured that the films have been removed from LOVEFiLM. Any questions on film deliveries can go to your designated Schools Support Coordinator by clicking on the CONTACT COORDINATOR button.