Not usually.

If there is a film that you would like to screen, we may be able to source a digital license or purchase. Please reach out to the Cinema & Media Studies Librarian.

The Penn Libraries may not be able to pay for public performance rights (or "PPR") for films already in its collections, even when an individual student, instructor, or student organization arranges a film screening or series, because Penn Libraries budgets for films are expressly restricted to purchase of collection materials, whether they are print or electronic (via streaming video platforms).

As the library is unable to fund rights and licensing fees, often we refer event or film series organizers on campus to the Student Activities Council at SAS, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, GAPSA, across all 12 of Penn's schools, or Wharton Council, among other groups.

To inquire about the availability of PPR of a particular film in our collection, or for more guidance about planning a film screening, series, or festival, please contact Charles Cobine, Cinema & Media Studies Librarian, at cobine@upenn.edu.