Screenings are made possible through distributors, studios and PR companies and are primarily intended for Voting Members who must screen as many titles as possible of films eligible for a BAFTA Film Award.

The Screening Committee - comprised of Board Members Jill Hawkins, Susan Wagner Lisa Oberhofer, Chief Executive Christina Thomas and Member Brad Harris provides ongoing links and contacts with studios and distributors throughout the year.

Through a central diary screenings are put into various stages of booking from date holds to confirmed as the studios determine the marketing of their upcoming titles and their schedule of openings in the UK (the one criteria for a BAFTA award). At this stage Q&As are first identified but almost never confirmed until the screening is posted (announced) by BEC. Often talent is added much closer to the date if the screening is tied to a weekend “junket.” Everything changes at least once.

As soon as the theater, talent and information are finalized, BEC posts all of the vital information through 123signup hosting services, to the BAFTA East Coast website. Email invitations, with a hot link to the registration system, are automatically generated through the hosting service to all current members. Registration is fast and automated.

As the screenings are published Susan Wagner’s team of Screening Committee members which include Maria Allen, Rebecca Clark, Roni Cook, Shirley Flore, Tiffany Jones, Lisa Oberhofer, Carole Robinson and Dorine Walski along with an additional army of volunteers are contacted by Susan to man each screening. Depending on the complexity of the screening 3-5 people are required for each of the 80-90 screenings held each year.

Screening Committee Members lead the screenings, taking responsibility for ensuring that the theater is prepared, print has arrived and if necessary mikes, chairs and talent will all be available. If talent is expected, photography, studio contacts and schedules and a Board Member are usually added to the mix. In a preview screening security will be present and timings must be adjusted accordingly. Door opening times are a major starting point for all screenings.

Someone once described all of this as holding a party for 400 people five times a week. Through all of this we’d like to thank our volunteers above all others for making our parties happen, much less so very successful.