Netflix in the classroom

As an instructor, you may have found yourself wishing you could show a film from Netflix in your classroom. Until recently, Netflix has not allowed their content to be shared in public spaces, even for educational purposes. Netflix have now opened up some of their original content to be screened in the classroom.

Netflix has allowed a small number of Netflix Original documentaries to be shown in classrooms, with a few important caveats. These are:

  • You can’t screen the movie multiple times in a day or week, but you can show the movie once a semester for multiple semesters.
  • You must be a Netflix account holder and use Netflix as the platform to screen the movie.
  • The film cannot be shown at any campaign events.
  • The screening must be non-profit and non-commercial. That means you can’t charge admission, fundraise, solicit donations, or accept advertising or commercial sponsorships in connection with the screening.
  • You cannot use Netflix’s logos, or in any way suggest that Netflix endorses your event or use of the film.
  • You cannot record the film (make sure any screen-capturing software like Yuja is not enabled).

If there’s content that you’d like to show, you can search Netflix’s Media Centre for the title. When you click into the title, you’re looking for the Grant of permission for educational screenings. This section will have a detailed explanation of how you are permitted to screen it.

Happy viewing!


Updated 05/10/2021

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