New legislation is in the works, The Film Exhibition Control Bill that will replace the existing Cinematograph Law once the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly has passed it.

The board will principally be responsible for censoring independent unrated movies. However, it will also be able to ban films and to reclassify mainstream movies already rated by international censors.

The bill states, “The board may ascribe a contrary rating to a film in accordance with its rating policies and guidelines if it determines that the content of the film requires a rating different from that ascribed by a board of internationally recognized film censors.”

Films that do not carry a rating, such as locally made movies or some low-budget independent films shown at film festivals, will be required to pay a $25 fee to receive a rating before they can be screened.

The board can consider various factors when issuing a rating, including:

Whether the content is seditious, obscene or blasphemous
Portrayal of violence, nudity, drug use and offensive language
The literary, artistic or educational merit of the movie
Whether the film is in the public interest.

The objective of the planned law includes protecting children from exposure to disturbing, harmful and adult content and informing the public of the content of a film. A fine of $2,000, plus an additional $100 per day, for screening films in contravention of the rating certificate is also included in the new legislation

The board will comprise three members, including at least one person with relevant experience and qualifications, and will be appointed by the Government. The existing board comprises five members.

The board will also advise on the issuing of premises licenses for public movie screenings and to monitor enforcement activities. This is to “curb the exhibition of unsuitable films.”

The new board will be responsible for making sure all movies shown publically in the Cayman Islands meets the standards of “morality, decency and propriety”.

Any movie the board considers “unsuitable for viewership in the islands” will be banned.

IMAGES: Cinema Camana Bay www.ieyenews