Agenda item

To consider and determine the classifications of a number of short films that are to be shown as part of the Ignite Film Festival at the Marlborough Parade Cinema between 28 June and 1 July 2022.  The Sub Committee will view the films and make their determinations following each film. The briefing report of Linda Holland (Licensing Manager) is attached.

Linda Holland (Licensing Manager) explained to the Sub Committee that a request had been received on behalf of the Ignite Film Festival to classify a number of films which were planned to be shown at the Parade Cinema in Marlborough between 28 June and 1 July 2022, those films not having a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

 

Mr Billy Rees, one of the Directors of the Ignite Film Festival Directors was present and gave the Sub Committee an overview of their plans for the festival.

 

Twelve films were then shown to the Sub Committee Members and they watched each film in turn and then discussed and agreed the classifications for each to be used for any viewings of the film in Wiltshire.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “Birdwatching”, be given the classification of PG for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a PG parental guidance classification. They noted that the film, which was an experimental drama, contained only a very mild sexual reference.  The references to death were mild and discreet.

 

 

Resolved:

 

That the film, “The Fuzzies”, be given the classification of 12A for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a 12A classification. They noted that the film contained moderate physical psychological threat sequences. However, as the film was in the horror comedy genre, the violence was mitigated by the fantasy and comedic setting. The film was felt to warrant higher than a PG rating due to a scene including attempted asphyxiation by use of a towel. Horror scenes, or situations where characters are in danger, should not be prolonged or intense for a  PG rating.

 

Resolved:

 

That the film “2020”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They concluded that the short experimental film did not contain any contentious material and was set within a positive framework.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “The Curious Case of the Boy Jones”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They noted that the animated documentary contained only very mild references to violence. Any images of blood were felt to be mitigated by the animated context and educational and historical nature of the film.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “12 o’clock”, be given the classification of 15 for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a 15 classification. They noted that the foreign language film included dangerous behaviour including a number of explicit references to suicide. Different potential methods of committing suicide were depicted including carbon monoxide poisoning and potential drug taking concerning a child which were not felt to be appropriate for an audience below the age of 15.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “The Dream”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They noted that the film, which was a short animation, did not contain any contentious material and was set in a positive framework.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “Page Turner”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They noted that the film, which was a short documentary, did not contain any contentious material, such as violence, threat or horror.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “Finding Tyler”, be given the classification of U for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a U classification. They noted that the film, which was a true crime drama (documentary style), contained scenes of criminal damage and mild references to death but these were appropriately contextualised.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “This is Zoe”, be given the classification of 15 for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a 15 classification. They noted that the film, which was a coming-of-age drama, contained several instances of bad language, as well as drug taking. As bad language was used frequently and in an aggressive manner with implied references to psychological  violence the film was judged to need a rating higher than 12. However, the Sub Committee felt that the film promoted a positive overall message.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “The Soloists”, be given the classification of PG for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a PG classification. They noted that the film, which was an animation, contained some moderate levels of potentially offensive language as well as numerous depictions of death. As depictions of death were in an animated and comedic context, they were considered appropriate for a PG rating. Bad language was not felt to be aggressive or frequent. There was no glamorisation of weapons such as guns, nor any focus on anti-social behaviour.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “DASH”, be given the classification of 12 for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee agreed that the content should be subject to a 12 classification. They noted that the film, in the social realism genre, contained an instance of bad language as well as moderate reference to sexual activity. There was also a reference to the possible euthanasia of a horse. The bad language in the film was deemed to be appropriate for a 12-rating due to infrequent use.

 

Resolved:

 

That the documentary/film, “In the Event of my Death”, be given the classification of PG for any public viewing in Wiltshire.

 

Reasons:

The Sub Committee unanimously agreed that the content should be subject to a PG classification. They noted that the film, which was a comedy drama, contained only brief and mild sexual references. References to death were also felt to be appropriate for a PG rating as they were set in a humorous and appropriate context.

 

In reaching its decisions the Sub Committee also took into account the relevant provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, the  Council’s agreed procedure for the classification of films which was approved in September 2019 and the British Board of Film Classifications current guidelines .