If you want to show a copyrighted film in a public setting, you will need to contact one of these companies to obtain permission. Start with Swank.
What are Public Performance Rights (PPR)?
Copyrighted
films (and this is most of them) are not automatically licensed for
public performance (this means showing a movie/film in a dorm,
auditorium, or any other kind of public space). The only legal
exception to this rule is if an instructor shows the video/dvd in a
classroom and that the activity is for teaching (aka: face-to-face
teaching). Thus, the ppr for a film must be purchased if the film is to be shown to a public audience (even if it is shown for free). The links on this page will guide you through information for obtaining ppr for a film.
Most films are purchased with no public performance rights(ppr). Many films, however, can be (or must be) purchased with ppr. This makes them more expensive than most films (usually several hundred dollars), but allows the flexibility of public showings without purchasing ppr. The distributors below sell ppr with the titles they sell.
