Scrounging Links…Irish film censor pressurises Netflix over providing age rating information

Read more EU Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from thesundaytimes.co.uk

The Irish film censor is attempting to scrounge a website link from the US video on demand service, Netflix. The Irish Film Classification Office (Ifco) wrote twice last year asking Netflix to redirect people looking for information about the age suitability of a film to the censor’s website. Ifco wants a link to be added in the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section of the Netflix website. Ifco wrote: Ifco habitually receives queries and complaints, primarily from parents, relating to film content viewed without Ifco’s age ratings, often online. This being the case, we feel it would be beneficial to your Irish users, parents in particular, to know more detailed consumer advice regarding your content is freely available. Netflix have declined the link exchange citing technical difficulties.

Censor Spit…Irish film censor bans the original I spit on Your Grave

Read more EU Censorship News at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Based on article from thefancarpet.com

The Irish film censor (IFCO) has banned the DVD re-release of the 1978 horror film I Spit on Your Grave starring Camille Keaton. UK fans of the infamous cult film will be able to purchase the ultimate collector’s edition on DVD and Blu-ray albeit cut by the BBFC. However Irish fans of the cult video nasty will be prohibited from purchasing locally, forcing them to import UK versions from internet retailers. The decision to ban the DVD re-release of the cult classic film was due to the film depicting acts of gross violence and cruelty (including mutilation and torture) towards humans. Director Meir Zarchi commented on the ban: It doesn’t surprise me that Ireland have decided to ban the film. It has relentlessly continued to shock and offend audiences since 1978 when it was first released, and it still does to this date. However, with the level of graphic violence and horror available these days, it’s surprising that IFCO sees this 1978 film more offensive than some of the most daring and empty of content torture porn available today. Since the birth of the Internet all censor boards around the world have instantly become irrelevant. IFCO included. Anyone anywhere in the universe can simply push a button on any video website store and order a disc of I Spit On Your Grave. There are no iron curtains in the skies that can stop it from landing at his or her door. Are we going through the Lady Chatterley’s Lover syndrome all over again? The bottom line – thank you IFCO for promoting the film in Ireland. The Original Cult Video Nasty is available today on UK DVD and Blu-ray as an ultimate collector’s edition dual format – still cut but less so than previous releases.

Appeal Watch…Ireland rates Watchmen as 16 after an appeal

Based on article from irishtimes.com

Irish cinemagoers aged 16 and over may see the violent new US action film Watchmen following a decision by the Film Appeals Board. John Kelleher, director of the Irish Film Classification Office (Ifco), had given the film an 18 certificate – in tandem with a similar classification in the UK. However, a more lenient rating has since been granted following an appeal by the film’s distributor, Paramount Pictures. The film goes on release in Ireland, Britain and the US on March 6th. Kelleher’s office advises viewers on its website that Watchmen contains strong, visceral hyper-realistic violence, including one brutal sexual assault. We are delighted that Watchmen has been classified as 16, said Niamh McCaul, general manager of Paramount’s Irish office. It increases our potential audience and more importantly will give access to fans that are 16 and over. BBFC explain their uncut 18 rating for the film See article from bbfc.co.uk Watchmen is the latest film from director Zack Snyder and the team behind 300. Based on a famous graphic novel from the 1980s it tells the story of an alternate America in which the Vietnam War was won, Nixon was elected for a third term and costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of society. It was passed ‘18’ for strong bloody violence. The BBFC Guidelines at ‘15’ state that ‘violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury’. In Watchmen however there are a number of scenes that focus on strong detailed violence and its gory result. In one such example, a man is stabbed through the arm, with it forcefully twisted and broken as the knife is shown penetrating his arm and emerging from the other side. In another, a man is shown being struck in the head with a meat cleaver followed by repeated bloody sight of the cleaver striking the head. Both of these scenes, in addition to one or two others, were considered inappropriate at ‘15’ and better placed at the adult ‘18’ where detail of strong violence is permitted. Watchmen also contains an attempted rape scene, strong language and sexual activity without strong detail.