A near infrared screening film which consists of a biaxially oriented film made from a polyester containing a near infrared light absorber having a weight reduction start temperature of at least 280 C. and which has a haze value of 5% or less and a total transmittance for visible lights having a wavelength of 400 to 650 nm of 40% or more and which is exemplified by having optical properties at visible and near infrared ranges which satisfy the following expressions (1) to (4):

1T(850)20  (1)

1T(950)20  (2)

-10T(620)-T(540)10  (3)

-10T(450)-T(540)10  (4)

wherein T(450), T(540), T(620), T(850) and T(950) are light transmittances at wavelengths of 450 nm, 540 nm, 620 nm, 850 nm and 950 nm, respectively. This film is inexpensive, has high handling ease, a high visible light transmittance and the function of preventing the malfunction of peripheral equipment caused by near infrared lights from the screen of a plasma display, for example, and can be suitably used in the front panel of the plasma display.