Hi Peter
I have the same problem with mural rolls of paper, the curl is almost impossible to get out. Quick solution is to cut some sheets and raise the humidity in the room or container and put some weight on the film, I know this will be a pain in the ass and you must be extremely careful. as well there are 16x20 vacumn easels out there , that you should be able to find. They were used in graphic seperation houses/ for making lith masks. If there is a large pro photographic lab try them as well , we used them in the photocomp days for lith masks and also any lab that does actor/model headshots will have a small vacumn easel for making titles for the images.
I have bought film in the past from photowarehouse that I swear was Ilford and it may not have as much curl as the Macoe.
hope this helps.
I don't know how handy you are Peter but you also can make a easel yourself with wood channels and a metal plate on top with holes in it hooked up to a regular vacumn pump.
as long as the film is oversize to the material you are printing on the film will draw down enough to put a piece of glass over.