Cyprus

[CY] Act on the Classification of Cinematographic Films of 2002

IRIS 2003-8:1/33

Christophoros Christophorou

Council of Europe expert in Media and Elections

The Act on the classification of cinematographic films of 2002 provides for the rating of all cinematographic works prior to public screening in cinema halls or other public premises. It replaced the colonial law of 1935 (chapter 43) with the same title, providing for the constitution of a “board of censors”.

The law establishes a rating body and classification system for (1) cinematographic works in analogue or digital format, and (2) for display/advertising material. Material publicly screened before classification is subject to seizure by the police. The board for the classification of cinematographic films has 30 members nominated by government departments and other public bodies and by professional and other associations. The chairman is an ex-officio public service official, all other members are appointed by the Minister of the Interior. The board appoints five-member committees assigned with the task to rate films. Their decisions can be challenged either by the chairman of the board or by interested parties, namely the film distributor.

The regulations on cinematographic works (rating), adopted in 2003, provide for the functioning of the board and the system in more details. They set the rules and procedures of operation of the board of classification of cinema films, and a rating system. The rating criteria and other documents related to the work of the board are found in appendices. The classification is made on the suitability of a film for specific age-groups. The criteria retained relate to the language used, scenes with sexual acts and violence, as well as to the way the use of drugs, antisocial and subversive behaviour are treated in the film.

Films considered as displaying extreme racism, hardcore pornography, or deemed to show extreme sexual violence or offending human dignity and encouraging anti-democratic and anti-social behaviour may fall under the category “Non rated” and may be banned from screening in the public.