Do I need permission to show a film in my lecture?

Showing a film in public (that is, beyond a domestic setting) normally requires permission or a licence from the rights owners. UCL has subscription to streaming services and licences to support the use of films in teaching. There are also copyright exceptions you may be able to rely on.

Under Section 34(2) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, you may show a film in a lecture, as long as the film is being shown on UCL premises for the purpose of "instruction" and to an audience consisting entirely of UCL students and staff. This exception does not extend to showing films for entertainment purposes, for example student film clubs.
Under the (Education Recording Agency) ERA licence, you may record and show broadcasts for non-commercial educational purposes. You may make available whole films or clips from films in the ERA repertoire, to UCL students based in the UK. The UCL Library subscribes to BoB (Box of Broadcasts), a streaming service that includes broadcasts you can use under the ERA licence.
The UCL library has a list of databases, subscription platforms and free film collections that you may be able to use under the terms of the subscription. These include subscriptions to BFI, Kanopy and World Cinema Collection: Films on Demand. Please contact copyright@ucl.ac.uk if you have any questions.
You may also be able to include extracts from films in a lecture under the illustration for instruction copyright exception, as long as the use is fair dealing. For more scenarios where you may be able to rely on exceptions to use films in teaching, please see guidance from Learning On Screen.