A film screening is the displaying of a film, as part of its production and release cycle, the term applying to a showing under special circumstances: either the environment or purpose will be different than that experienced by a mass market moviegoer.
A film screening is the displaying of a film, as part of its production and release cycle, before it is widely released to movie theaters. In general, "screening" applies to showing under special circumstances: either the environment or purpose will be different than that experienced by a mass market moviegoer.