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Motion picture content rating system
(Redirected from Motion picture rating system)
A motion picture content rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content. A particular issued rating can be called a certification, classification, certificate or rating. Most countries have some form of rating system, typically carrying age recommendations in an advisory or restrictive capacity ranging up to adulthood, and are often given in lieu of censorship. In some jurisdictions the legal obligation of administering the rating may be imposed on movie theaters.
In countries such as Australia and Singapore, an official government body decides on ratings; in other countries, such as the United States, it is done by industry committees with little if any official government status. In most countries, however, films that are considered morally offensive have been censored, restricted, or banned. Even if the film rating system has no legal consequences, and a film has not explicitly been restricted or banned, there are usually laws forbidding certain films, or forbidding minors to view them.
The influence of specific factors in deciding a rating varies from country to country. In countries such as the United States, films with strong sexual content tend to be restricted to older viewers, though those same films are very often considered suitable for all ages in countries such as France and Germany. In contrast, films with violent content which would be rated leniently in the United States and Australia are often subject to high ratings and sometimes even censorship in countries such as Germany and Finland.
Other factors may or may not influence the classification process, such as being set within a non-fictional historical context, whether the film glorifies violence or drug use, whether said violence or drug use is carried out by the protagonist, with whom the viewer should empathize, or by the antagonist. In Germany, for example, films depicting explicit war violence in a real war context (such as the Second World War) are handled more leniently than films with purely fictional settings.
A film may be produced with a particular rating in mind. It may be re-edited if the desired rating is not obtained, especially to avoid a higher rating than intended. A film may also be re-edited to produce an alternate version for other countries.
‹ The template below (Horizontal TOC) is being considered for merging. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›
Comparison tableEdit
A comparison of current film rating systems, showing age on the horizontal axis. Note however that the specific criteria used in assigning a classification can vary widely from one country to another. Thus a color code or age range cannot be directly compared from one country to another.
White – No restrictions: Suitable for all ages / Aimed at young audiences / Exempt / Not rated / No applicable rating.
Yellow – No restrictions: Parental guidance is suggested for designated age range.
Purple – No restrictions: Not recommended for a younger audience but not restricted.
Red – Restricted: Parental accompaniment required for younger audiences.
Black – Prohibitive: Exclusively for older audience / Restricted to licensed premises / Purchase age-restricted / Banned.
ATP +13 +16 +18 N/A
G MA15+ R18+ RC
PG M X18+ Exempt
Unrestricted 6 8 10 12 14 16 N/A
CAT.1 CAT.2 N/A
L 10 12 14 16 18 N/A
B C D X N/A
(outside Quebec)
G 14A R E
PG 18A 18A Prohibited
(inside Quebec)
G G (Not suitable for young children) 13 16 18 Exempt
18 (Explicit sexuality) Refused classification
TE 7 14 18 Educational
Suitable for all ages Banned
T 7 12 15 18 Prohibited
A 7 F
11 / 15 11 15
L MS-6 MS-12 K-14 K-16 N/A
PERE K-12
S 7 7 12 12 16 16 18 N/A
U -12 -16 -18 Prohibited
0 6 16 18 Educational
12 12 Unrated
Unrestricted 13 17 18 N/A
I III Exempt
IIA/IIB
KN 6 12 16 18 N/A
L 6 9 12 16 16 N/A
U UA A S
SU 13+ 17+ 21+ N/A
N/A G PG 12A 15A 16 18 N/A
T VM14 VM18 N/A
G PG-13 T-16 T-16 A-18 N/A
G PG-12 R15+ R18+ N/A
К БА/Б14/Е16 Б14 Е16 Е18 HA N/A
U 7+ 12+ 16+ 18+ N/A
U P13 18 Banned
G 12+ 15+ 18+ PU
PG 18+R
U 12A 15 18 Not fit for exhibition
PG 12
A B B-15 C N/A
AA N/A D
AL 6 9 12 16 N/A
G R13 R15 R16 R18 R
PG RP13 RP16 RP18 Exempt
G 12 15 18 RE
PG 12A
A 6 12 12 18 Not approved
G R-13 R-16 R-18 X
A M/ 3/6/12/14/16/18 M/6 M/12 M/14 M/16 M/18 N/A
M/3 M/6 M/12 M/14 M/16 M/18
M/18-P
AG N-15 IM-18 IC
AP-12 N/A IM-18-XXX
0+ 6+ 12+ 16+ 18+ Refused classification
G PG13 NC16 M18 R21 Exempt
A 7–9PG 7–9PG 10–12PG 10–12PG 13 16 18 XX
PG X18
ALL 12 15 R Restricted screening N/A
APTA 7 12 16 18 N/A
Película X
Btl 7 15 15 N/A
0 6 6 12 12 16 16 Unrated N/A
N/A 18 18
0+ 6+ 6+ 15+ 18+ N/A
N/A 12+
G 13 15 18 20 Banned
Genel İzleyici Kitlesi
(English: General Audience) 7+ 13+ 15+ 18+ Refused classification
7A 13A 15A Educational purposes
G PG13 PG15 18+ N/A
PG 15+
Uc U PG 12A 15 18 Rejected
12 R18 Exempt
G PG-13 R NC-17 Not rated
(San Cristóbal municipality)
A B C D N/A
(Baruta municipality)
(Maracaibo municipality)
N/A A B C
P C13 C16 C18 N/A
ArgentinaEdit
Through its Advisory Commission of Cinematographic Exhibition (Comisión Asesora de Exhibición Cinematográfica) the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) issues ratings for films based on the following categories:[1]
Categories of the Argentinian classification system
ATP: Suitable for all ages, ATP stands for "Apta (para) Todo Público", meaning "for all public"
+13: Suitable for 13-year-olds and over. Children under the age of 13 are admitted if accompanied by an adult.
+16: Suitable for 16-year-olds and over.
C: Suitable for 18-year-olds and over. Restricted to specially licensed venues.
AustraliaEdit
Main article: Australian Classification Board
The Classification Board and Classification Review Board are government-funded organizations which classify all films that are released for public exhibition.[2][3]
The Australian classifications
Advisory categories
General (G) – General. The content is very mild in impact. The G classification is suitable for everyone.
Parental Guidance (PG) – Parental guidance recommended. The content is mild in impact. It is not recommended for viewing or playing by persons under 15 without guidance from parents or guardians.
Mature (M) – Recommended for mature audiences. The content is moderate in impact. Children under 15 may legally access this material because it is an advisory category. However, M classified films and computer games may include classifiable elements such as violence and nudity of moderate impact that are not recommended for children under 15 years.
Mature Accompanied (MA15+) – Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. The content is strong in impact.
Restricted (R18+) – Restricted to 18 years and over. The content is high in impact. Despite this category being legally restricted, in Queensland the restriction is not applicable to persons under 2.[4]
Adult film categories
Restricted (X18+) – Restricted to 18 years and over. This classification is a special and legally restricted category which contains only sexually explicit content. That is, material which shows actual sexual intercourse and other sexual activity between consenting adults. X18+ films are only available for sale or hire in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
RC – Refused Classification. Banned from sale or hire in the country and cannot be legally imported. Films are rated RC if their content is very high in impact and exceeds the guidelines.
Films intended to inform, educate or instruct or concerned with sport, religion or music are exempt from classification provided they do not contain material that would result in an "M" rating or higher if submitted for classification.[5]
AustriaEdit
Motion pictures are rated by the Austrian Board of Media Classification (ABMC) for the Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (Bundesministerium für Unterricht, Kunst und Kultur). The recommendations made by the ABMC are generally not legally binding and there are nine sets of state laws on the cinema sector with different age provisions.[6] The only exception is in the case of "16" rated films, since under Austrian law there is a legal age restriction on certain types of content i.e. discrimination, sexual abuse, glorification of violence etc.[7] In addition to the ABMC's age recommendations, in the state of Vienna children under the age of 6 are only permitted to attend public film performances if they are accompanied.[8]
The AMBC issues age recommendation from the following categories:
Unrestricted – Released for all age groups.
6+ – Released for children from age 6.
10+ – Released for children from age 10.
14+ – Released from age 14.
16+ – Released from age 16. Restricted classification.
BelgiumEdit
There are only two classifications for films publicly exhibited in Belgium issued by the Inter-Community Commission for Film Rating (Dutch: Intergemeenschapscommissie voor de Filmkeuring; French: Commission Intercommunautaire de Contrôle des Films). Films are prohibited to minors under the age of 16 unless passed by the commission. There is no mandatory rating system for video formats but 90% of video distribution abides by the voluntary Belgium Video Federation. It is basically the same as the system for theatrical exhibition, but also provides a "12" rating.[9]
CAT.1: (Kinderen Toegelaten [KT]; Enfants Admis [EA]) – Suitable for all.
CAT.2: (Kinderen Niet Toegelaten [KNT]; Enfants Non Admis [ENA]) – Prohibited for people younger than 16.
BrazilEdit
Main article: Brazilian advisory rating system
All films that are exhibited in public or released on a home video format in Brazil must be submitted for classification to the advisory rating (Classificação Indicativa, abbreviated ClassInd), which is run by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice (Ministério da Justiça).[10][11] Anyone below the film's minimum age can watch it if accompanied by the parent or guardian who is at least 18 years old, except for those rated "Not recommended for ages under 18", which, by law, are strictly prohibited from viewing by people under 18.[12][13] Unlike many countries, the ClassInd does not have any legal right to ban, demand cuts or refuse to rate any movie.[14]
Film classification symbols used in Brazil.
The ClassInd uses the following system:
L: Livre (General): Do not expose children to potentially harmful content.
10: Não recomendado para menores de 10 anos (Not recommended for minors under 10): Violent content or inappropriate language to children, even if of a less intensity.
12: Não recomendado para menores de 12 anos (Not recommended for minors under 12): Scenes can include physical aggression, use of legal drugs and sexual innuendo.
14: Não recomendado para menores de 14 anos (Not recommended for minors under 14): More violent material, stronger sex references and/or nudity.
16: Não recomendado para menores de 16 anos (Not recommended for minors under 16): Scenes featuring production, trafficking and/or use of illegal drugs, hyper-realistic sex, sexual violence, abortion, torture, mutilation, suicide, trivialization of violence and death penalty.
18: Não recomendado para menores de 18 anos (Not recommended for minors under 18): Adults only. Scenes featuring explicit sex, incest, pedophilia, praising of the use of illegal drugs and violence of a strong imagery impact.
There are also operational descriptions of attenuating and aggravating elements that can interfere on the final rating.
BulgariaEdit
The Bulgarian film rating system is defined in the Film Industry Act of 2003 and administered by the National Film Rating Committee.[15][16]
A – Recommended for children.
B – No age restrictions.
C – Not recommended for children under 12. No persons under 12 shall be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.
D – Prohibited for persons under 16.
X – Prohibited for persons under 18, for licensed venues only.
CanadaEdit
Main articles: Canadian motion picture rating system and Canadian Home Video Rating System
Film ratings in Canada are a provincial responsibility, and each province has its own legislation, rules and regulations regarding rating, exhibition and admission. Ratings are required for theatrical exhibition, but not all provinces require classification for home video.[17] In the past there was a wide range of rating categories and practices in the various provinces; however, the seven rating systems—with the exception of Quebec—now all use categories and logos derived from the Canadian Home Video Rating System (CHVRS).[18]
Classifications used outside QuebecEdit
Canadian rating labels used outside Quebec.
The categories are mostly identical to the CHVRS with a few minor variations. In the provinces that require classification of video formats, supply of 14A and 18A films is restricted to customers above those ages.[19] In the case of theater exhibition, children are admitted to 14A and 18A films in the Manitoba and Maritime provinces if accompanied by an adult, although admittance is restricted to children over the age of 14 in the case of 18A films.[20][21] Likewise, British Columbia,[22] Saskatchewan (administered by the British Columbia Film Classification Office),[18] Alberta and Ontario also admit children to 14A and 18A films if accompanied, but do not impose an age restriction on 18A films.[23][24] The Maritimes and British Columbia (along with Saskatchewan) also provide an "A" classification for adult content.[21][22] Some provinces, such as Nova Scotia, reserve the right to prohibit films altogether.[21]
In general, the categories are:[19]
G – Suitable for viewing by all ages.
PG – Parental guidance advised.
14A – Suitable for people 14 years of age or older. Those under 14 should view with an adult. No rental or purchase by those under 14. Parents cautioned. (Formerly "Adult Accompaniment (14)" in the Maritimes)[21][25]
18A – Suitable for people 18 years of age or older. Those under 18 should view with an adult. Additionally, in certain provinces there is a mandatory age restriction of 14 years. No rental or purchase by those under 18. Parents strongly cautioned.
R – Restricted to 18 years and over. No rental or purchase by those under 18. Content not suitable for minors.
A – Adult. Film is not suitable for viewers under 18 years of age. (Formerly "Explicit Material (XXX)" in the Maritimes)[21][25]
E – Exempt.
Classifications used in QuebecEdit
Further information: Régie du cinéma (Quebec)
The rating labels used by Régie du cinéma.
In Quebec, the Régie du cinéma rates all films and videos. The Régie is a governmental agency overseen by the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications;[26] its purview devolves from the Cinema Act (chapter C-18.1).[27] In some cases the Régie du cinéma may refuse to provide a classification, effectively banning the film. Educational and sports films are exempt from classification.[28]
G: Visa général (General Rating) – May be viewed, rented or purchased by persons of all ages. If a film carrying a "G" rating might offend the sensibilities of a child under 8 years of age, "Not suitable for young children" is appended to the classification.
13+: 13 ans et plus (13 years and over) – May be viewed, rented or purchased only by children 13 years of age or over. Children under 13 may be admitted only if accompanied by an adult.
16+: 16 ans et plus (16 years and over) – May be viewed, rented or purchased only by children 16 years of age or over.
18+: 18 ans et plus (18 years and over) – May be viewed, rented or purchased only by adults 18 years of age or over. If a film contains real and explicit sexual activity "Explicit sexuality" is appended to the classification, and in the retail video industry storeowners are required to place the film in a room reserved for adults.
ChileEdit
Films are classified by the Council of Cinematographic Classification (Consejo de Calificación Cinematográfica) which is a central agency under the Ministry of Education.[29] In 2002 legislation was enacted which reversed the ban on all 1,090 films that had previously been banned in Chile.[30]
The age ratings are:[29]
Todo Espectador – General audience.
Inconveniente para menores de 7 años – Not suitable for children younger than 7 years.
Mayores de 14 años – Over 14 years old.
The age ratings may also be supplemented by the following content categories:
Contenido educativo – Educational content.
Contenido pornográfico – Pornographic content.
Contenido excesivamente violento – Excessively violent content.
Pornographic films may only be exhibited at venues licensed for that purpose. Minors are not admitted to films with pornographic or excessively violent content.[29]
ChinaEdit
See also: Film censorship in China
China does not have a rating system. Only films that are passed as "suitable for all ages" are released although some exhibitors have introduced informal ratings.[31][32] A March 2017 effective law on film does require non-violations of the lawful rights and interests of minors (Chinese: 未成年人) or harming the physical and psychological health of minors.[33] However, in an interview with China Central Television in the same month, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television's film chief Mr. Zhang Hongsen said it was inaccurate for the media to label the guideline for minors as manual/euphemistic classification and it was a misinterpretation or over-interpretation of the new law.[34][35]
ColombiaEdit
As of June 22, 2005, the Ministry of Culture issued its new rating system.[36][37][38] The classifications are:
T: For general audiences.
7: Advisory.
12: Advisory.
15: Restricted.
X: Pornographic content.
Prohibited: Contains elements that incite or advocate crime.
DenmarkEdit
In Denmark, the Media Council for Children and Young People currently rates films.[39] Films do not have to be submitted for a rating and in such instances must be labelled a "15" (restricted to people aged 15 and above).[40] Children aged 7 and above may attend any performance—including those restricted to older audiences—if they are accompanied by an adult.[41]
The Danish ratings administered by the Media Council for Children and Young People
A – Suitable for a general audience.
7 – Not recommended for children under 7.
11 – For ages 11 and up.
F – Exempt from classification.
EstoniaEdit
Film classification in Estonia is regulated by the Child Welfare Act.[42]
PERE – Family Film.
L – Allowed to all.
MS-6 – Not recommended for under 6.
MS-12 – Not recommended for under 12.
K-12 – Prohibited for under 12 unless accompanied by an adult.
FinlandEdit
Films in Finland are classified by the National Audiovisual Institute. A minor up to 3 years younger than the age limit is permitted to see a film in a cinema when accompanied by an adult, except for 18-rated films. Films with an age rating may contain an additional marker for violence, sex, fear, or substance abuse. The ratings are as follows:[43]
S (Finnish) or T (Swedish) – For all ages.
7 – Over 7 years.
12 – Over 12 years.
18 – Adults only.
FranceEdit
Further information: Censorship in France § Cinema
Prior to showing in theaters, a distribution certificate must be obtained from the Ministry of Culture. The Minister will decide which certificate to issue based on a recommendation by the National Center of Cinematography and the moving image (CNC) classification. In some cases films may be classified as "pornographic films or those containing an incitement to violence" or completely prohibited from screening.[44] A certificate will be granted from the following:
U (Tous publics) – Certificate authorising the screening of the film to all members of the public.
-12 – Certificate prohibiting the screening of the film to minors under 12.
Interdiction (prohibition) – Certificate totally prohibiting the screening of the film.
GermanyEdit
The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (FSK) ratings.
The Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry, FSK) has a film ratings system under which films are classified. All the ratings contain the phrase "gemäß §14 JuSchG" (in accordance with §14 of the Youth Protection Law), signifying that they are legally binding for minors. Cinemas may legally exhibit films without a classification but minors are prohibited from such screenings.[45]
Ohne Altersbeschränkung (FSK 0): no age restriction (white sign).
Freigegeben ab 6 Jahren (FSK 6): released to ages 6 and older, nobody under this age admitted (yellow sign).
Freigegeben ab 12 Jahren (FSK 12): released to ages 12 and older; children who are at least age 6 may be admitted with parental accompaniment (green sign).
Freigegeben ab 16 Jahren (FSK 16): released to ages 16 and older, nobody under this age admitted (blue sign).
Keine Jugendfreigabe (FSK 18): "no youth admitted", adults only. (red sign).
Infoprogramm or Lehrprogramm: "educational programming". This rating is not issued by the FSK, but may be self-applied to films seeking to educate their audience (e.g. documentaries, instructional films, etc.). Films with this rating may be sold without any age restriction provided they do not contain any material "evidently harmful to the development of children and youths".[46]
The FSK rating also limits the time of the day in which the movie may be aired on free-to-air TV stations to a time frame between 22:00 (FSK 16) or 23:00 (FSK 18) and 6:00. Stations are permitted to broadcast films not approved for audiences under 12 at their own discretion.[47]
GreeceEdit
All publicly released films must be submitted to the Youth Committee for classification.[9] There are four categories:
Unrestricted – No restrictions (The film does not contain violence, drug abuse, or sexual content).
13 – The film may contain mild violence and adult themes. Suitable for people aged 13 and above.
17 – The film may contain violence, drug abuse, and softcore pornographic scenes. An ID card certifying the age is required in all Greek cinemas and video rental shops in order to get a cinema ticket or rent a video of a "17" rated film. Not permitted to young people under the age of 17.
18 – Not permitted to people under the age of 18.
Hong KongEdit
Main article: Hong Kong motion picture rating system
Films intended for public exhibition have to be submitted to the Director of Film, Newspaper and Article Administration, who is the Film Censorship Authority (FCA) under the Ordinance, for approval. Films approved for public exhibition are then either classified or exempted from classification.[48][49]
Hong Kong ratings administered by the Film Censorship Authority
I – Suitable for all ages. (circle sign).
IIA – Not suitable for children. (square sign).
IIB – Not suitable for young persons and children.
III – for persons aged 18 or above only. (triangle sign).
Of the four levels, Levels I, IIA, and IIB are unrestricted. Only Level III is a restricted category and regulated by the government.
HungaryEdit
The Hungarian ratings administered by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority
Hungarian ratings are decided by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH):[50]
KN (korhatár nélkül) – Unrestricted or exempt.
6 – Not recommended below age of 6.
12 – Not recommended below age of 12.
X – Restricted below 18, for adults only.
The current one is the third motion picture rating system in Hungary. The first system existed between 1965 and 2004, and was administered by the Ministry for National Cultural Heritage and its predecessors. Its categories were "Without age restriction", "Not recommended below age of 14", "Above age of 16 only", and "Above age of 18 only". A second system was introduced in 2004 which was overhauled in 2011 in favour of the current system. Its categories—given by the National Film Office—were "Without age restriction", "Parental guidance suggested below age of 12", "Not recommended below age of 16", "Not recommended below age of 18", and "For adults only".[51]
IcelandEdit
Since July 1, 2006, FRÍSK (short for Félag rétthafa í sjónvarps- og kvikmyndaiðnaði) has replaced the Kvikmyndaskoðun system in Iceland. In October 2013, FRÍSK announced that it was adopting a new system similar to the Netherlands' Kijkwijzer at least through 2016.[52] The Icelandic ratings system also provides an "18" rating in addition to the Kijkwijzer ratings.[53] Under Icelandic law, minors aged 14-years-old and over may be admitted to a film carrying a higher age rating if accompanied by an adult.[54]
L: All ages.
6: Not suitable for children under 6 years.
12: Not suitable for children under 12 years.
IndiaEdit
The Indian ratings administered by the Central Board of Film Certification
In India, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is responsible for certifying films meant for public exhibition.[55]
U – Unrestricted public exhibition.
UA – Unrestricted public exhibition, but with parental guidance for children below the age of 12 years.
A – Restricted to adults.
S – Restricted to any special class of persons.
IndonesiaEdit
Motion pictures shown in Indonesia must undergo reviewing by the Indonesian Film Censorship Board. Other than issuing certificates, the LSF/IFCB also reviews and issues permits for film-related advertising, such as movie trailers and posters. LSF has the authority to cut scenes from films. Films passed for exhibition are awarded one of the following classifications:[56]
SU (Semua Umur): All ages.
13+: Suitable for ages 13 and above.
IrelandEdit
All films that are exhibited in public or released on a home video format must be submitted for classification to the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO).[57][58]
Cinema ratings
Video ratings
G (General) – Suitable for children of school going age (note: children can be enrolled in school from the age of 4).
PG (Parental Guidance) – Suitable for children over the age of 8. Parental guidance is recommended for children under the age of 12.
12A, 12 – Suitable for viewers of 12 and over. Younger children may be admitted to the film at cinemas if accompanied by an adult; on home video younger viewers are not permitted to purchase/rent even if under supervision.
15A, 15 – Suitable for viewers of 15 and over. Younger viewers may be admitted to the film at cinemas if accompanied by an adult; on home video younger viewers are not permitted to purchase/rent the video.
16 (cinema only) – Suitable for viewers of 16 and over. Younger viewers are not admitted.
18 – Suitable only for adults. Viewers under 18 are not admitted at cinemas or permitted to purchase/rent the video.
ItalyEdit
In Italy the rating system of the films is currently disciplined by the law n° 161 of 21 april 1962. All films aimed to be shown in Italy are classified by the Committee for the Theatrical Review of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities into one of the following categories:[59]
T (pellicola per tutti): All ages admitted.
VM14 (vietato ai minori di 14 anni): No admittance for children under 14.
Before 1962, the Royal Decree n° 1848 of 6 November 1926 established that the films that obtained the clearance could be classified for all ages (T) or forbidden to children under 16 years (VM16).
JamaicaEdit
Film classification in Jamaica is a requirement of the Cinematograph Act of 1913, which also established the Cinematograph Authority.[60]
G (General Audiences): Appropriate for all ages.
PG (only applied occasionally).
PG-13: Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by parent/guardian.
T-16: Teenagers 14 & 15 will be admitted in the company of an adult.
A-18: No one under the age of 18 years will be admitted.
JapanEdit
A Japanese film rating regulator known as Eirin (映倫) [full-name: Eiga Rinri Kanri Iinkai (映画倫理管理委員会)] has a film classification system under which films are classified into one of four categories. The categories have been in use since 1 May 1998.[61][62]
Eirin ratings
G: General, suitable for all ages.
PG-12: Parental guidance requested for young people under 12 years.
R15+: No one under 15 admitted.
KazakhstanEdit
In Kazakhstan, films are rated by the Committee for Culture of the Ministry for Culture and Information.[63]
К: Film is allowed for any audience.
БА: Permitted for children over the age of 12 only.
Б14: Supervision by parents required for children the age of 12-13.
Е16: Supervision by parents required for children the age of 12-15.
Е18: For viewers aged over 18.
НА: For viewers aged over 21. Restricted to licensed venues between 10 pm and 6 am local time.
LatviaEdit
In Latvia it is the duty of the producer of a film or distributor to assign a rating according to a pre-determined set of criteria. All publicly exhibited films, visual recordings and films broadcast over television and electronic networks must be classified.[64]
U (universal audience) – Suitable for persons of all age groups.
7+: Suitable for a person who has reached at least 7 years of age.
12+: Suitable for a person who has reached at least 12 years of age.
18+: Not suitable for a minor (prohibited to people under 18).
MalaysiaEdit
See also: Censorship in Malaysia
Historically, film censorship in Malaysia was carried out by police under the Theatre Ordinance 1908. In 1954 the Film Censorship Board (LPF) was created to censor films distributed across Malaysia in accordance with the Cinematograph Films Act 1952, and later the Film Censorship Act 2002.[65] Malaysia's motion picture rating system was introduced in 1953, initially classifying films either for General Audiences (Tontonan Umum) or For Adults Only (Untuk Orang Dewasa Sahaja), and in 1996 these classifications were changed to U and four different 18 categories. In mid-April 2010, the four 18 categories were deprecated, and was simplified to just 18. In late 2008, the PG13 classification was introduced, which was changed to P13 in 2012.[66]
Malaysian film classification logos used since January 2012
Upon viewing the board will assign one of three categories to the film:[67]
Lulus Bersih (Passed Clean [i.e. without cuts])
Lulus Dengan Pengubahan (Passed with Edits/Cuts)
Tidak Diluluskan Untuk Tayangan (Not Approved for Screening)
Should a film be approved, the Board then assigns the film a classification. As of 2012 the ratings are:[66]
U (Umum) - No age limit.
P13 (Penjaga) – Viewers under 13 years of age need parental/guardian supervision while viewing.
18 – Only for viewers aged 18 and above.
MaldivesEdit
Film in the Maldives are classified by the National Bureau of Classification. Certificates issued are based on the following categories:[68]
Maldive film classifications
G – Suitable for all ages.
PG – Parental guidance.
12+ – For ages 12 and above.
15+ – Suitable for ages 15 and above.
18+R – Suitable for ages 18 and above. Restricted.
PU – For professional use only.
MaltaEdit
As of 2012, films in Malta are classified by the Film Board in accordance with the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts Act.[69] As part of an overhaul in 2013 the "14" and "16" age classifications were replaced by "12A" and "15"; the "PG" rating was redefined while "U", "12" and "18" were retained in their existing form.[70]
If the film is deemed "fit for exhibition" it will be awarded one of the following classifications:
U (Universal) – Suitable for all.
PG (Parental Guidance) – General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
12A – Suitable for persons of 12 years and over: Provided that persons younger than 12 years may attend only when accompanied by an adult.
12 – Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over.
15 – Suitable for persons of 15 years and over.
MexicoEdit
The General Directorate of Radio, Television and Cinematography (in Spanish, Dirección General de Radio, Televisión y Cinematografía) is the issuer of ratings for motion pictures. The RTC is an agency of the Department of State (Secretaría de Gobernación). It has its own classification system, as follows:[71][72]
AA Informative-only rating: Understandable for children under 7 years.
A Information-only rating: For all age groups.
B Information-only rating: For adolescents 12 years and older.
B-15 Information-only rating: Not recommended for children under 15.
C Restrictive rating: For adults 18 and older.
D Restrictive rating: Adult movies (legally prohibited to those under 18 years of age).
NetherlandsEdit
In the Netherlands, the Kijkwijzer system is used, which is executed by the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM). Under Dutch law children are admitted to films carrying an age rating if accompanied by an adult except in the case of "16" rated films.[73][74]
The Kijkwijzer ratings used in the Netherlands
Al: All ages.
6: Potentially harmful to children under 6 years.
12: Potentially harmful to children under 12 years; broadcasting is not allowed before 8:00 pm.
16: Potentially harmful to (and not allowed for) children under 16 years; broadcasting is not allowed before 10:00 pm.
Mostly, these icons are used along with other symbols, displaying if a movie contains violence, sexual content, frightening scenes, drug or alcohol abuse, discrimination, or coarse language. These symbols are also used for TV-programs in the Netherlands.
New ZealandEdit
New Zealand Ratings
The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 gives the Office of Film and Literature Classification the power to classify publications into three categories: unrestricted, restricted, or "objectionable" (banned).[75][76] With a few exceptions, films, videos, DVDs and restricted computer games must carry a label before being offered for supply or exhibited to the public.[77][78]
In 2017 the Office of Film and Literature Classification created a special RP18 rating for online content in response to the Netflix television series, 13 Reasons Why. The new classification reflects concerns raised with 17 and 18 year olds in New Zealand being at a higher risk of suicide.[79][80][81] The current ratings are:[82]
G: Anyone can be shown or sold this.
PG: Films and games with a PG label can be sold, hired, or shown to anyone. The PG label means guidance from a parent or guardian is recommended for younger viewers.
M: Films and games with an M label can be sold, hired, or shown to anyone. Films with an M label are more suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over.[83][84]
R13: Restricted to persons 13 years and over.
RP13: Restricted to persons 13 years and over unless accompanied by a Parent/Guardian.
RP18: Restricted to persons 18 years and over unless accompanied by a Parent/Guardian (online content only).
R: Restricted exclusively to a certain audience.
NigeriaEdit
The National Film and Video Censors Board classifies films, videos, DVDs, and VCDs. Classifications carrying an age rating are legally restricted, although the "15" and "18" classifications do not apply to people below 2 years of age.[85] The categories are:
G : Suitable for viewing by persons of all ages.
PG : Parental Guidance advised.
12 : Not suitable for people under the age of 12.
12A : Not suitable for people under the age of 12. A child must be accompanied by an adult to view the film.
15 : Not suitable for persons under the age of 15.
18 : Not suitable for people under the 18.
RE : Films which fall under this category are to be exhibited and distributed only in specially licensed premises.
NorwayEdit
The Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) sets the age limits on films to be exhibited in Norway. Films not submitted to the Media Authority for classification carry a mandatory age rating of "18".[86]
The following age limits apply to films to be shown in cinemas:[86]
A – Suitable for all.
6 – 6 years (no restriction for children accompanied by an adult).
9 – 9 years (children down to 6 years accompanied by an adult).
12 – 12 years (children down to 9 years accompanied by an adult).
15 – 15 years (young down to 12 years accompanied by an adult).
18 – 18 years (absolute lower limit).
The Media Authority has no power to ban films but must not classify films which they consider contravene Norwegian criminal law.[87]
PhilippinesEdit
The rating labels used in the Philippines
In the Philippines, motion pictures, along with television programs, are rated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, a special agency of the Office of the President. As of 2012, the Board uses six classification ratings.[88]
G (General Audiences) – Viewers of all ages are admitted.
PG (Parental Guidance) – Viewers below 13 years old must be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult.
R-13 (Restricted-13) – Only viewers who are 13 years old and above can be admitted.
X (Not For Public Exhibition) – "X-rated" films are not suitable for public exhibition.
PolandEdit
Ratings in Poland are not set by any board or advisory body. Prior to 1989 the applicable age ratings were "no age limit", "over 7", "over 12", "over 15" and "over 18" and were set by The General Committee of Cinematography. Since 1989 there is no official classification system, with age ratings being self-prescriptive and set by the distributors. In case of television, the supervisory body – Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji (KRRiT, The National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television) can impose fines upon those responsible for improper rating of a broadcast, or lack of it.[89]
PortugalEdit
Movies are rated in Portugal by the Comissão de Classificação de Espectáculos of the Ministry of Culture. In cinemas the ratings are mandatory (subject to parental guidance) whereas for video releases they are merely advisory, except in the case of pornographic content.[90] Children under the age of 3 were previously prohibited from public film performances, but a special category was introduced for this age group when the classification system was overhauled in 2014. A category for 14-year-olds was also introduced, and the lowest age rating was dropped from 4 years of age to 3.[91][92] The categories are the following:[92]
Para todos os públicos – For all the public (especially designed for children under 3 years of age).
M/3 Passed for viewers aged 3 and older.
M/12 Passed for viewers aged 12 and older.
P Special rating supplementary to the M/18 age rating denoting "pornography".
RomaniaEdit
Ratings in Romania are set by the National Center of Cinematography (Romanian: Centrul Național al Cinematografiei) (CNC)[93].
AG (audiență generală) – General audience.
AP-12 (acordul părinților pentru copiii sub 12 ani) – Parental guidance for children under 12.
N-15 (nerecomandat tinerilor sub 15 ani) – Not recommended for children under 15.
IM-18 (interzis minorilor) – Prohibited to minors under 18.
IM-18-XXX (interzis minorilor și proiecției cu public) – Prohibited to minors under 18 and projection with a public.
IC (interdicție de comunicare) – Prohibition of communication.
RussiaEdit
See also: On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development
Since 2012 the rating appears inside circles, which indicate age restrictions followed by a plus(+), and appears in most shows, including TV and Internet shows in Russian.[94][95]
Russian rating system
The indication shown:
0+ – All ages are admitted.
6+ для детей старше 6 лет (For children over 6 years) – Unsuitable for children under 6.
12+ для детей старше 12 лет (For children over 12 years) – Unsuitable for children under 12.
18+ запрещено для детей (Prohibited for children) – Prohibited for children under 18.
Фильмы, которым отказано в классификации (Refused classification) – Banned.
SingaporeEdit
Film classification in Singapore was introduced on 1 July 1991 and comes under the jurisdiction of the Board of Film Censors (BFC), currently part of the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). There were three ratings originally: G (General), PG (Parental Guidance) and R (Restricted to 18 years and above). Prior to then films were either approved or effectively banned. Since then, there have been several alterations to the ratings over the years. In September 1991, a Restricted (Artistic) (R(A)) rating was introduced to replaced the previous R-rating so as to allow the screening of certain art-house films which would otherwise have been banned without said rating, with an increased age restriction set at 21 years of age.[96] The R(A) rating has since been replaced by NC16 (No Children under 16), M18 (Mature 18) and R21 (Restricted 21). A PG13 (Parental Guidance 13) rating, introduced in 2011, is the latest rating to be introduced. The G, PG and PG13 ratings are advisory while NC16, M18 and R21 carry age restrictions. Video ratings are mostly the same as the cinema ratings, except only go up to M18. Some titles, such as documentaries, children's programmes and sports programmes may be exempt from classification on video, but all titles must be classified for public theatrical exhibition.[97][98]
The revised Singapore film rating system which took effect 15 July 2011
G: General – Suitable for all ages.
PG: Parental Guidance – Suitable for all but parents should guide their young..
PG13: Parental Guidance 13 – Suitable for persons aged 13 and above (Parents are strongly cautioned to exercise discretion in permitting viewing by pre-teens and early teens without parent/guardian supervision).
NC16: No Children Under 16 – Suitable for persons aged 16 and above.
M18: Mature 18 – Suitable for persons aged 18 and above.
R21: Restricted 21 – Suitable for adults aged 21 and above (restricted to licensed cinemas).
South AfricaEdit
In South Africa, films are classified by the Film and Publication Board.[99] Distributors and exhibitors are legally compelled to comply with the age ratings.[100] All broadcasters, cinemas and distributors of DVD/video and computer games must comply with the following:
The FPB's rating categories and descriptors
A: Suitable for all.
PG: Parental Guidance
7–9PG: Not suitable for children under the age of 7. Children aged 7–9 years old may not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.
10–12PG: Not suitable for children under the age of 10. Children aged 10–12 years old may not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.
13: Not suitable for children under the age of 13.
16: Not suitable for persons under the age of 16.
X18: No one under 18 admitted; restricted to licensed adult premises.
XX: Must not be distributed or exhibited in public.
There are also sub-descriptors used with some of the ratings:
S for sex.
L for language.
V for violence.
P for prejudice.
N for nudity.
H for horror.
D for substance abuse.
SV for sexual violence.
South KoreaEdit
KMRB ratings
The Korea Media Rating Board (영상물등급위원회) in Seoul divides licensed films into the following categories:[101][102]
All (전체 관람가) – Film suitable for all ages.
12 (12세 이상 관람가) – Film intended for audiences 12 and over. Underage audiences accompanied by a parent or guardian are allowed.
R (청소년 관람불가) – No one under 18 is allowed to watch this film.
Restricted Screening (제한상영가) – Film needs a certain restriction in screening or advertisement as it is considered a highly bad influence to universal human dignity, social value, good customs or national emotion due to excessive expression of nudity, violence, social behavior, etc (technically not an age restriction but films with this rating may only be screened at "adults only" theaters, with the age of majority set at 19).
SpainEdit
All films to be commercially released in Spain in any medium must be submitted to the ICAA (Instituto de Cinematografía y Artes Audiovisuales - Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts Institute). Classifications are advisory except for X-rated films, which are restricted to specially licensed venues. A supplementary classification, "Especialmente Recomendada para la Infancia" (Especially recommended for children), is sometimes appended to the lowest two classifications.[103] Another supplementary classification, "Especialmente recomendada para el fomento de la igualdad de género" (Especially recommended for the promotion of gender equality), is sometimes appended to any of the classifications except the last one.[104]
Spanish classifications
APTA(i) – General admission.
7(i) – Not recommended for audiences under 7.
12 – Not recommended for audiences under 12.
Película X – Prohibited for audiences under 18 (may only be shown in premises where adult films are screened).
SwedenEdit
The Swedish Media Council ("Statens medieråd") is a government agency with the aims to reduce the risk of harmful media influences among minors and to empower minors as conscious media users.[105] The classification bestowed on a film should not be viewed as recommendations on the suitability for children, as the law the council operates under (SFS 2010:1882) only mandates them to assess the relative risk to children's well-being. It is not a legal requirement to submit a film to the Media Council.[106] The councils classification only applies to public exhibition, and the law does not require classification of home media.[107]
The following categories are used:[108][109]
Btl (Barntillåten) – All ages.
7 – Children under the age of 7, who are accompanied by an adult, are admitted to films that have been passed for children from the age of 7.
11 – Children over the age of 7, who are accompanied by an adult, are admitted to films that have been passed for children from the age of 11.
Not Approved/15 – Children over the age of 11, who are accompanied by an adult, are admitted to films with a 15-year limit.[110]
SwitzerlandEdit
Further information: § Germany
Switzerland has adopted Germany's Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry, FSK). Under Swiss law, however, children up to two years younger than the age recommendations will be admitted if accompanied by a person invested with parental authority.[111]
TaiwanEdit
From 1994 until 2015, the Government Information Office (GIO) classified films into four categories (General Audience/Protected/Parental Guidance/Restricted) pursuant to its issued Regulations Governing the Classification of Motion Pictures of the Republic of China (電影片分級處理辦法 in traditional Chinese):[112] The "Parental Guidance" rating previously prohibited viewing by children under the age of 12 and required adolescents aged 12–17 to be accompanied by an adult. In 2015, the "Parental Guidance" rating was further divided into two categories: one that prohibits children under the age of 12 and one that prohibits adolescents under the age of 15.[113][114][115]
The revised Taiwan motion picture rating system which took effect from 16 Oct 2015.
0+: 普遍級(普) (General Audience) – Viewing is permitted for audiences of all ages.
6+: 保護級(護) (Protected) – Viewing is not permitted for children under 6; children between 6 and 11 shall be accompanied and given guidance by parents, teachers, seniors, or adult relatives or friends.
12+: 輔導十二歲級(輔12) (Parental Guidance 12) – Viewing is not permitted for children under 12.
15+: 輔導十五歲級(輔15) (Parental Guidance 15) – Viewing is not permitted for those under 15.
18+: 限制級(限) (Restricted) – Viewing is not permitted for those under 18.
ThailandEdit
A motion picture rating system was proposed in the Film and Video Act of 2007, and was passed on December 20, 2007 by the Thai military-appointed National Legislative Assembly, replacing laws which had been in place since 1930. The draft law was met with resistance from the film industry and independent filmmakers. Activists had hoped for a less-restrictive approach; however, films are still subject to censorship, or can be banned from release altogether if the film is deemed to "undermine or disrupt social order and moral decency, or might impact national security or the pride of the nation".[116]
The ratings were put into effect in August 2009.[117] They are as follows:
P – Educational.
G – General audience.
13 – Suitable for viewers aged 13 years and over.
20 – Content is unsuitable for viewers aged under 20.
Banned – Films that are not allowed to screen publicly in Thailand.
TurkeyEdit
In Turkey, movies to be shown in cinemas are rated by the Evaluation and Classification Board of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. All films to be made commercially available must be classified, except in the case of educational films which are labeled as "for educational purposes" instead. The board also has the power to refuse classification in extreme cases (producers and distributors can submit an edited version of a movie to the board but edited versions may also be rejected if still deemed inappropriate); in this case, the movie will be banned with the exception of special artistic activities like fairs, festivals, feasts and carnivals.[118][119]
Genel İzleyici Kitlesi – General audience.
7+ – Suitable for viewers aged 7 and over.
7A – Viewers under the age of 7 may watch with accompanying family members.
13+ – Suitable for viewers aged 13 and over.
13A – Viewers under the age of 13 may watch with accompanying family members.
United Arab EmiratesEdit
The Ministry of Information of the United Arab Emirates classifies all films, which cinemas must abide by.[120][121]
G – For public viewing, suitable for all age groups.
PG – For public viewing, with adult supervision.
PG13 – Persons below 13 allowed with adult supervisions.
15+ – Ages 15 and above only.
United KingdomEdit
See also: British Board of Film Classification, History of British film certificates, and Video Recordings Act 1984
UK film classification certificates. Uc is deprecated.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) classifies films to be publicly exhibited in the United Kingdom, although statutory powers remain with local councils which can overrule any of the BBFC's decisions. Since 1984, the BBFC also classifies films made commercially available though a home video format. If the BBFC refuses a classification this effectively amounts to a ban (although local councils retain the legal right to overturn it in the case of cinema exhibition). The BBFC's regulatory powers do not extend to the Internet, so a film they have banned on physical media can still be made available via streaming media/video on demand. Videos designed to inform, educate or instruct or concerned with sport, religion or music are exempt from classification; exempt films may be marked as "E", but this is not an official label.[122][123]
The current BBFC system is:[124]
Uc – Especially suitable for pre-school children. The category is now retired, although older video works still in circulation may carry the label.[125]
U (Universal) - Suitable for all. A U-rated film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over.
PG (Parental Guidance) - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG-rated film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older.
12A - Cinema release suitable for 12 years and over. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A-rated film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
12 – Video release suitable for 12 years and over. Video recordings with this rating are not to be supplied to anyone below that age even if under supervision.
15 - Suitable only for 15 years and older. No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15-rated film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15-rated video.
18 - Suitable only for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18-rated film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18-rated video.
R18 (Restricted 18) - Adult works for licensed premises only. The R18 category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. R18-rated video works may not be supplied by mail order.
United StatesEdit
Main article: Motion Picture Association of America film rating system
In the United States of America, film classification is a voluntary process with the ratings issued by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) via the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA).[126][127] The system was established in 1968, but the version listed below is the most recent revision, having been in effect since 1990.[128] An unrated film is often informally denoted by "NR" in newspapers and so forth.[129]
G (General Audiences) – All ages admitted.
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) – Some material may not be suitable for children.
PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned) – Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
R (Restricted) – Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
NC-17 (Adults Only) – No one 17 and under admitted.
VenezuelaEdit
Age ratings are divided into several categories. The age that corresponds to the category and the level of enforcement is defined by municipality ordinances.
In the San Cristóbal municipality the following ratings apply:[130]
AA – Aimed at children under 12 years of age.
A – Suitable for all ages.
B – Suitable for audiences aged 12 years or older.
C – Suitable for audiences aged 16 years or older.
D – Suitable for audiences aged 18 years or older.
In the Baruta municipality the following ratings apply:[131]
D – Suitable for adults.
In the Maracaibo municipality children under the age of two are not admitted to performances and the ratings are enforced:[132]
VietnamEdit
All theatrical releases are screened by the Cinema Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Travel of Vietnam to ensure suitability for public viewing. Regardless of the rating, some scenes may be altered or removed to comply with regulations. The classification was revised in January 2017, replacing the previous rating system.[133]
Vietnamese classifications
P (Vietnamese: Phổ cập, meaning Universal) – Suitable for all ages.
C13 – Persons under age 13 not admitted.
Unlike the previous rating system, the current rating system does not have parental guidance and ratings other than P are considered to be restricted.
Television content rating systems
Video game content rating system
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^ "Kapittel 2. Aldersgrenser: § 5.Fastsettelse av aldersgrenser på kinofilm". Lov om beskyttelse av mindreårige mot skadelige bildeprogram mv [Law on protection of minors from harmful photo application etc.] (in Norwegian). Norway: Ministry of Culture. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
^ "Chapter IV – Movie, Television and Trailer Classification". 2004 Implementing Rules and Regulations (PDF). Philippines: Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
^ Kirwil, Lucyna (3–5 September 2003). Age or Content Based Film Ratings: A Solution Discussed in Poland (PDF). European Conference of Film Classification. Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Fernsehen. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
^ "English Version: Classification in Portugal". Comissão de Classificação de Espectáculos. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014.
^ "Decreto-Lei n.º 396/82, de 21 de Setembro" [Decree-Law n. 396/82, 21 September] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Comissão de Classificação de Espectáculos. 21 September 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2014.
^ a b Presidency of the Council of Ministers (14 February 2014). "Decreto-Lei n.º 23/2014" [Decree-Law n. 23/2014] (PDF). Diário da República (in Portuguese). p. 1385. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014.
^ "Criterii de clasificare a filmelor" (PDF). Centrul Național al Cinematografiei. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНАЯ СЛУЖБА ПО НАДЗОРУ В СФЕРЕ СВЯЗИ, ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ И МАССОВЫХ КОММУНИКАЦИЙ (РОСКОМНАДЗОР) [Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications (Roskomnadzora)] (in Russian). Russia: Ministry of Communications and Mass Media. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
^ "Федеральный закон от 29.12.2010 № 436-ФЗ" [Federal Law of 29.12.2010 № 436-FZ]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta. 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
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^ Lee, Claire (7 August 2013). "Media Rating Board OKs Screening of Kim Ki-duk's Controversial 'Moebius'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
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^ "Ny lag: Från 1 mars kan 11-åringar se film med 15-årsgräns på bio i sällskap med en vuxen" [From 1 March, 11-year-olds can watch movies with 15-year-olds in the movies in the company of an adult] (in Swedish). Swedish Media Council. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
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^ "Sinema Filmlerini Değerlendirme Ve Sınıflandırma İşaretlerimizi Tanıyalım" [Meet the assessment and classification Sign Cinema Films]. Turkey: Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012.
^ "Age Classification System". National Media Council. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
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^ David J. Fox (27 September 1990). "X Film Rating Dropped and Replaced by NC-17 : Movies: Designation would bar children under 18. Move expected to clear the way for strong adult themes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
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^ "Reforma parcial de la ordenanza sobre espectáculos públicos del municipio San Cristóbal" (PDF). 6 December 2013. p. 7.
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^ "Ordenanza de regulación e impuestos de espectáculos públicos – Municipio Maracaibo" (PDF). 16 July 2002. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-18.
^ "Vietnam adopts a new film rating system with 18+ rating". Bliss Saigon. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
IMDb's information about rating systems from all over the world.
FilmClassifications.com Information regarding film classifications from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Australia Australian Classification Board.
Denmark Medierådet for Børn og Unge (The Media Council for Children and Young People).
Finland Finnish Centre for Media Education and Audiovisual Media.
France Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC).
Germany Spitzenorganisation der Filmwirtschaft e. V. (SPIO)
Iceland Félag rétthafa í sjónvarps- og kvikmyndaiðnaði.
India Central Board of Film Certification.
Irish Film Censor's Office.
Japan Administration Commission of Motion Picture Code of Ethics.
South Korea Korea Media Rating Board.
Malaysia Lembaga Penapisan Filem Malaysia (Malaysia Film Filter Board)
Netherlands Kijkwijzer (and Nicam).
New Zealand Office of Film & Literature Classification.
Norway Media Authority.
Philippines Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
Singapore Media Development Authority.
Sweden Statens medieråd.
South African Film and Publications Board.
Spanish Film Academy (ACE).
United Kingdom British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
USA Motion Picture Association of America.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Motion_picture_content_rating_system&oldid=906099809"


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7 May 2014updated 28 May 2014 9:56am
Of course there is a north-south divide – and of course it matters
The claim that the only divide that matters is between the rich and the poor ignores the unequal distribution of political power.
By James Maxwell
(Photo By A general view over Tower Bridge and the River Thames from the reception of the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London. Photograph: Getty Images.)
Writing in the Guardian on Monday, Owen Jones attacked the idea that English politics is split along north-south lines as a "myth" and a "distraction". Given rates of poverty and inequality in the south of England are as high as they are in the north (higher, in some cases), "how much really divides the call centre worker in Hull [from] the supermarket shelf-stacker in Chelmsford?", Jones asked.
It's a legitimate point, and one familiar to anyone involved in the debate over Scottish independence. One of the clichés of Scottish unionism – particularly Scottish Labour unionism – is that a worker on minimum wage in Dundee has more in common with another minimum wage worker in Manchester than he or she does with a top-rate tax-payer in Edinburgh.
The premise of this argument – that working people across Britain share a basic set of interests – is sound. But the conclusion Jones and others tend to reach for – that "soft" constitutional issues are irrelevant when set against "hard" political and economic ones – isn't. There seems to me to be a fairly obvious relationship between the structure of the British state (sclerotic and heavily centralised) and the structure of the British economy (sclerotic and heavily centralised).
To begin with, a wealth of evidence confirms that London and the south east benefit disproportionately from the spending decisions of the UK government.
Last year, analysis by IPPR North showed that the coalition's planned 2015/16 departmental cuts would reduce public expenditure by £57 per person in the north east of England compared to £43 per person in London and £39 per person in the south east. (It stands to reason that areas with high levels of public sector employment will suffer more from austerity than areas with lower levels of public sector employment.) IPPR North has also warned that UK transport expenditure is dangerously skewed in London's favour. In 2011, it found that upward of 80 per cent of all planned transport spending was earmarked for projects in the capital and its surrounding areas. In addition, London gets an excessively large slice of UK arts and culture funding – 15 times more than other English regions, according to one recent estimate.
Westminster's obsession with London reflects the broader trajectory of UK economic policy over the last 35 years. Since the 1980s, efforts by successive UK governments to control inflation and protect the value of the pound have squeezed British manufacturing, the bulk of which is (or was) located in northern England and Scotland, at the same time as boosting London-based financial services. In 1998, Eddie George, Mervyn King's predecessor as Governor of the Bank of England, basically admitted as much when he said job losses in the north were a "price worth paying" for curbing inflation in the south.
The consequences of this financialised, London-led growth strategy are plain to see: with just 13 per cent of the UK's population, London now accounts for almost a quarter (22.4 per cent) of the UK's total economic output – more than the north west (9.4 per cent), Yorkshire and Humber (6.7 per cent) and the north east (3 per cent) combined. Despite the financial crisis, there is no sign of this trend changing anytime soon. As the Guardian's economics editor, Larry Elliot, has written: "In the three years from 2010 to 2012 – a period marked by weak growth and austerity – London accounted for 10 times as many private sector jobs as any other [British] city."
Jones acknowledges that the UK economy is imbalanced but then fails to connect the dots. Like Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (more so, in fact), the English regions are powerless to pursue any economic strategy that deviates from the turbo-charged, free-market model championed by Westminster. But by devolving power away from London, other parts of the UK could begin to tackle the disparities created by the uneven distribution of British growth.
More to the point, the disproportionate attention the south receives from British policy-makers is one of the driving forces behind the UK's present constitutional crisis. I doubt there would be the same appetite for independence among low-income Scots if the UK economy still looked capable of providing decent, secure, properly paid jobs for Scottish workers.
Jones is, of course, right to say the real dividing line in British politics is between "those who have wealth and power, and those who do not". I think everyone's pretty much agreed on that. But it's hardly a coincidence that so much of Britain's wealth and power is concentrated in one place.
James Maxwell
Why is everything going wrong for the Scottish Yes campaign?
The SNP can't duck the monarchy debate forever
The trouble with Gordon Brown
More power for communities can't just mean more power for councils
"National renewal" does not come cheap
Labour must be radical on public service reform

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Bellaire Home Claimed by Fire Leaves Family Out in the Cold
by: Tate Blanchard
Posted: Feb 3, 2015 / 05:25 PM EST / Updated: Feb 6, 2015 / 05:25 PM EST
An early morning fire, on Tuesday, leaves one Bellaire home a total loss. Crews battled for hours not only the flames but bitterly cold temperatures.
It was a much different scene on Trumbull Street in Bellaire during the afternoon. Only a few fire fighters were still there and
the charred remains of what used to be a home, could clearly be seen. Smoke and steam continued to roll out from the ash, a few small flames continued to burn as the Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department brought in a bulldozer to smother the last few hot spots.
Related Story: Crews Respond to Full Involved Structure Fire in Bellaire
Fire Chief, Bill Swoyer, believed the fire started in one of the bedrooms on the second floor. He also said the bitter cold temperatures made things even more dangerous as the water quickly froze.
Another issue they encountered was trying to find a working hydrant.
"We know that we have issues with hydrants and we're trying to get them repaired, there's no finances to get them replaced," Swoyer said. "I believe the village has allocated funds for five new hydrants this Spring. The hydrant that we did hit is the last one in the line coming up here and there's nothing else in this area with more structures up this hill here."
One neighbor, Fleda Ross, expressed how sorry she was for the family; "It's a shame that they lost everything that they have; the family is glad everyone was okay, no one was hurt in doing the fire and everyone got out okay and the only thing they're upset about is their grandmother and aunt's ashes were in the house," said Ross.
The house was situated less than five feet from Ross' home and she too left her house with her son and their dogs until the fire was completely extinguished, in fear that it may have spread. Ross said her neighbors are now looking for a place to go with their three dogs.
The family is staying with friends temporarily. Clothing donations are being accepted for the two men and one woman who lived there. Both men wear 34-34 pants with L and XL shirts, and the woman wears size 16 pants with XL shirts.
Fire Chief Swoyer noted how well the Village helped as they brought salt to dissolve some of the ice as crews from Bellaire, Martins Ferry, The Spirit of 76, and OR&W, fought the fire with care provided by the Salvation Army Canteen.The State Fire Marshal's Office was also called in to investigate.


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SoftBank Splashes $400M Investment on OPay at $2 Billion Valuation
When Opay launched in Nigeria in 2018, it came in really hard. The startup came in backed by a $50 million investment (the highest raised by a Nigeria-based fintech startup, at the time) raised by its parent company, Opera.
Opay, however, put that money to good use. The mobile money provider has done incredible numbers and achieved tremendous results in different areas like market penetration (spreading rapidly around Nigeria), transactions processed, number of users, and number of offline agents. For instance, OPay says it processed around $1.4 billion in payments in October 2020 in Nigeria, and that figure quickly rose to $2 billion by the end of the Q4, of the same year.
A couple of months back, we reported that the Nigeria-based, Chinese-backed fintech platform, was in talks to raise up to $400 million in Series C funding at a $1.5billion valuation. We can now confirm that Opay has finally completed this funding round. Bloomberg reported that the $400 million investment round was led by Softbank Vision fund 2.
Other investors that participated in this round include Sequoia Capital China, Redpoint China, Source Code Capital, and Softbank Ventures Asia. DragonBall Capital and 3W Capital also took part in the round. This is interesting because this marks Softbank's first investment in Africa – joining the already long list of high-profile investors scrambling for the right startups on the continent to back.
In the early days, Opay was well known for its ride-hailing and bike-hailing services. But following the ban on bike-hailing in some parts of Nigeria, Opay focused its attention solely on the financial sector.
Related Article: Tricycle ride-hailing platform – OTrike launched by OPay in Nigeria
Opay Expansion Plan
Softbank's aim with this investment is to help Opay grow and expand into other emerging markets.
Per Bloomberg, Kentaro Matsui, a SoftBank Group Corp. managing director said, "We believe our investment will help the company extend its offering to adjacent markets and replicate its successful business model in Egypt and other countries in the region."
We hope, with this latest funding round, Opay can replicate this success in other emerging markets on the continent. You should check out the list of all startups in Africa that have attained unicorn status.


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January 7, 2017 by The Colonel News
Full-time Colonel, Part-time Hero
Photo provided by Jimmy Fitzmaurice
Ledyard senior and volunteer firefighter Jimmy Fitzmaurice had a hectic day after leaving school early on Dec. 15 around lunchtime to assist with the fire that had started at a recycling building on Lorenz Parkway. Many units responded and struggled to fight the fire as it lasted most of the day.
"There was a lot of other fire departments helping out because this was a pretty big fire," Fitzmaurice said. "All the water we used to put it out covered the ground and froze the ground. So yes it was a lot of work. But also a challenge, but a fun challenge."
Despite that challenge, Fitzmaurice made the best of it and put in his all to help his team defeat the fire.
"I've been a vol firefighter for about a year and half," Fitzmaurice said. "I joined because I wanted to try something new and challenge myself and meet new friends. The firehouse has let me meet new friends. I enjoy learning. There is always something to do at the firehouse, ranging from cleaning the fire trucks to doing forcible entry."
Most Colonels put on their sports shoes to play a game after school, but some put on their work boots to help better the town and improve the community.
Corrynne Medina, Staff Writer
Senior Corrynne Medina is a staff writer for the 2016-2017 Colonel. She plays varsity basketball and softball and participates in Young Marines. After graduation, she will be going into the United States Marine Corps.
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Home > Features > Alton Towers > Article
The Top 5 Rides and Attractions at Alton Towers
By Nick Sim, Monday, June 3, 2013 10:00
Alton Towers, the UK's most popular theme park, boasts a huge line-up of rides and attractions. This includes a diverse selection of major roller coasters, several dark rides and a variety of child-friendly attractions. But which are the best?
Last year, we launched our extensive theme park guides. Since then, hundreds of readers have rated and reviewed attractions at Alton Towers, providing a unique glimpse into which are the most highly-regarded among theme park fans. As we're focusing on Alton Towers as our "Park of the Month" for June, in this article we run-down the top 5 rides at the park, as rated by Theme Park Tourist readers.
5. Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back!
In 2002, Alton Towers opted to revamp its ageing Haunted House ride. Retaining the spooky exterior and the people-mover ride system, it added a new laser gun system and renamed the attraction as Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back!. The backstory revolves around the disappearance of a genetic surgeon who once lived at the house, who appears to have left behind an army of gun-wielding zombies.
Guests are challenged to blast the undead back into the grave, by shooting at glowing green and orange targets. Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back! is one of the best family rides at Alton Towers, with the added bonus of having a high capacity that ensures long queues are rare. Kids and adults alike will have a great time blasting away at the targets, and the re-ride value is incredibly high due to the challenge of trying to top your best score (or that of your partner / sibling / children/ friends!). The main downside is the sheer number of targets, which detracts somewhat from the underlying plot of trying to shoot zombies.
Full details: Duel: The Haunted House Strikes Back! guide
4. Rita
Installed in 2005 at a cost of £8 million, Rita sprawls across the Dark Forest area of Alton Towers. The Intamin accelerator coaster's opening launch section fires riders up to a top speed of 62 miles per hour in just 2.2 seconds, sending them careening around a series of high-speed corners and hills.
Rita is very similar in style to Stealth at Thorpe Park, which we rate as one of the UK's best roller coasters. However, whereas part of the thrill of riding Stealth comes from being blasted up a 205-feet-tall tower and plummeting back to earth, Rita's height is severely constrained by the planning restrictions applied to Alton Towers. A number of other twists and turns are designed to compensate for this, and do so to some degree. Despite the opening of Thirteen in 2010, readers rate Rita as the strongest coaster in the Dark Forest area, but a notch below classics such as Nemesis and Oblivion.
Full details: Rita guide
When it opened back in 2002, Air was the world's first Bolliger & Mabillard Flying Coaster. Guests board the ride in a seated position, but the seats rotate to leave them facing the ground before the ride enters its opening lift hill. After plunging down its first drop and a 180-degree bend, they then twist and turn around an undulating circuit featuring several inversions.
Air is still the only ride of its type in the UK, and its innovative ride system really does offer a spectacular feeling of flight. More than a decade after its debut, it still draws large crowds, although it hasn't attained the same legendary status as nearby Nemesis. The most disappointing aspect of Air is the dull second half of the circuit, which is exacerbated by the total absence of theming around the ride. Surely a ride that simulates flying should offer guests a flight "over" something more than blades of grass and the occasional patch of concrete? Nevertheless, Air is still one of the stand-out rides in the park's line-up.
Full details: Air guide
2. Oblivion
Oblivion was another "world's first" roller coaster for Alton Towers back in 1998, in this case the world's first vertical drop roller coaster. It still dominates the futuristic X-Sector area of Alton Towers, with its steep lift hill and screaming riders. The ride hits a top speed of 68 miles per hour at the base of the drop, and then races around a wide bend before hitting the brakes at the end of a short 1,222-feet circuit.
The major criticism aimed at Oblivion is that its circuit is simply too short to rival other major coasters, including other B&M Dive Machines such as SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa. We don't agree with this assessment – what Oblivion lacks in lengthy and variety, it makes up through the sheer strength of its terrifying, adrenaline-rush-inducing first drop. Anything that was added afterwards would simply be an anti-climax.
Full story: Oblivion
1. Nemesis
When it opened back in 1994, Nemesis was a statement of intent from Alton Towers. The popular family destination was determined to transform itself into a world-class theme park, and it started that process by installing the first B&M Inverted Coaster in Europe. It has since become one of the world's most highly-regarded coasters, regularly featuring in "top 10" lists put together by enthusiasts - and being rated as Alton Towers #1 attraction by Theme Park Tourist's readers.
Upon leaving the station, the train climbs to the top of Nemesis' lift hill, which peaks just below the tree line. It then turns 90 degrees and descends into the valley below, hitting a top speed of 50 miles per hour. Following the first drop are a barrel roll, downwards helix and inline twist, leading up to an intense vertical loop. The ride finishes with a further barrel roll before returning to the station.
The first of Alton Towers' major roller coasters, Nemesis is still by far the best. The ride's strength is its use of its setting, with riders able to see the ground rushing close beneath their feet. This makes the coaster seem much faster than it actually is, making perfect use of the inverted coaster format.
Full details: Nemesis guide
And one more...
With The Smiler only having opened last week, there hasn't been time yet for many of our readers to rate and review it. But rest assured, the 14-inversion beast looks set to be one of the park's headliners for many years to come.
Full details: The Smiler guide
What are your favourites?
Disagree with the rankings above? Let us know what your favourite Alton Towers rides and attractions are by adding your own ratings and reviews.
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Submitted by Balhatchet on Monday, June 03, 2013 11:28
Very strange list of 'best' rides as voted for by users of this site, in my opinion, considering that the majority of enthusiasts that I'm aware of really aren't whatsoever fond of Rita, and are iffy about the Haunted House's conversion into Duel.
Personally I'd rank Smiler, Oblivion, Th13teen, Hex and Sub Terra as my favourite rides at the park, so it's interesting how people have such differing views on the same rides and attractions!
Submitted by Nick on Monday, June 03, 2013 13:05
Understood, although in most cases these are based on 100+ rankings. Not all from "enthusiasts", of course!
For me, Nemesis is way out in front as the best ride. And Sub-Terra is the worst attraction in the entire park.
You can honestly say that you find Sub Terra to be a less desirable experience than Charlie or Submission? I think that's a tad harsh. :P
Submitted by Nick on Tuesday, June 04, 2013 17:37
Yes I can :-)
For the audience they are intended for (kids and thrill-seeking teenagers respectively), Charlie and Submission do a job. Sub-Terra fails on every level for me. It's just a poorly-themed drop tower with a bunch of shouty staff members surrounding it.