Vietnamese films must display warnings about violence and nudity from May 20, 2023? What are the film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older?
Vietnamese films must display warnings about violence and nudity from May 20, 2023?
Pursuant to Clauses 2 and 3, Article 4 of Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL stipulating as follows:
Display of film ratings and warnings
…
2. Principles for displaying warnings
a) Warnings must be displayed before and during the dissemination of films;
b) Warnings must be displayed by using one or more appropriate methods, including but not limited to verbal or written warnings;
c) For films that are disseminated in the cinemas; at the headquarters of foreign diplomatic missions and cultural establishments set up in Vietnam; films that are disseminated on public means and other audio-visual media: Display a written or verbal warning before the dissemination, right below the rating icon for the disseminated film.
d) For films that are disseminated on television and in cyberspace: Play a written or verbal warning at least three seconds after the dissemination, right below the rating icon for the disseminated film; up to three times during the dissemination of a film with a duration of 20 minutes or more.
3. Displayed contents of film ratings and warnings
a) Displayed contents are the film ratings defined in Article 2 herein;
b) Warning contents are film rating criteria defined in Article 3 herein, including: Theme and content; Violence; Nudity and sex; Drugs, stimulants, addictive substances; Horror; Vulgar language; Dangerous and easily imitable behavior.
If all seven rating criteria above appear in a film, warnings for these seven rating criteria are required.
Thus, according to the above regulations, from May 20, 2023, films that are allowed to be shown must comply with the above regulations.
Vietnamese films must display warnings about violence and nudity from May 20, 2023? What are the film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older?
What are the film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older?
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL dated April 5, 2023 regulating film rating criteria and display of film ratings and warnings.
According to that, the film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older (T18 (18+)) are specified in Section 5, Part II of the Appendix issued together with Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL as follows:
(1) Theme and content
- The content of the film to be rated deals with adult matters that can be depicted at a strong level and in detail provided that they do not last for the lengthened duration; do not occur regularly, and are fitted to the content of the film.
- For action, horror, or child abuse films, the theme and content of action, horror or child abuse may be depicted at a strong level in detail; have a strong level of impact on viewers without occurring regularly, and lasting for the lengthened duration;
- For films with sensitive themes and contents, realistic topics about politics, culture, society, or economy, these themes, contents or topics may be depicted at a medium level; can be explored in a deep manner; do not last for the lengthened duration; do not occur regularly; have a medium level of impact on viewers.
(2) Violence
- Films may contain images, sounds, and language depicting violent behaviors that affect viewers from an over-strong to under-excessive level; can be depicted at a strong level provided that they do not last for the lengthened duration; occur with medium frequency; and are appropriate to the genre of the film to be rated;
- Implied depiction of sexual violence scenes is allowed as long as these scenes are depicted at a medium level, and fitted into the content of the film to be rated.
(3) Nudity and sex
- Films may contain images showing full-body nudity that are depicted at a medium level; do not last for the lengthened duration; do not involve close-ups or detailed descriptions of genital; are fitted to the content of the film to be rated. Films are not allowed to both overuse nude images and cause sexual incitement;
- Films are not allowed to contain images, sounds, or language explicitly showing or depicting in detail sexual activities, except if such images, sounds or language are fitted to the content of the film to be rated; do not last for the lengthened duration; and do not explore sexual activities in a deep manner.
(4) Drugs, stimulants and addictive substances
- The same as those of T16 rated films;
- Films do not contain images, sounds, or language that represent the sale, production, and possession of drugs or addictive substances, except in the case of condemning, criticizing these wrongdoings, and lead to the consequence that characters performing these acts must be punished or eliminated.
(5) Horror
Films contain horrible, terrifying, frightening or fearful images, sounds or language that are depicted at a strong level with a constant sense of threat; do not last for the lengthened duration; do not have an excessive level of psychological and emotional impact on viewers.
(6) Vulgar language
- Films contain vulgar images, sounds or language that are depicted at a stronger level than T16 rated films; are not allowed to hurt viewers and community. Use of language of sexual harassment or abuse is prohibited;
- Films of which the theme is about social realism may contain vulgar images, sounds, or language that occur regularly if they do not last for the lengthened duration, and are fitted to the content of the film to be rated.
(7) Dangerous and easily imitable behaviors
- Since the film to be rated contains dangerous or easily imitable images, sounds, or language, or the way of handling the situation that leads viewers to exposure to the risk of being harmed, or causes social harms through their behaviors, the result must be radically handled, and convey educational and preventive messages;
- Images, sounds, or language representing easily imitable behaviors are not depicted in detail; do not occur regularly; and have a medium level of impact on viewers.
What are the film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers of all ages?
The film rating criteria for dissemination to viewers of all ages are specified in Section 1, Part II of the Appendix issued together with Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL as follows:
(1) Theme and content
The film to be rated is of an educational or entertaining nature, or encourages moral values and positive social relations.
(2) Violence
- Images, sounds, or language showing the scenes of threatening, intimidating or beating other people are not allowed, except if such images, sounds, or language are fitted into the content of the film to be rated; the depiction is mild; the exploration is not deep; and a level of impact on viewers is low;
- Depiction of sexual violence is not allowed.
(3) Nudity and sex
- Images showing nudity, or images, sounds, or language depicting sexual activities are not accepted;
- Films with special content and themes, such as historical or documentary films about wars or genocide; science-education films, or films related to health or health care, ways of life of natives, indigenous people or ethnic minorities, customs or habits of the countries or territories introduced in these films, may contain images showing back views of half-naked characters provided that the depiction is mild; the occurrence is not regular; and the duration is not lengthened.
(4) Drugs, stimulants and addictive substances
Images, sounds, or language depicting the use of drugs, stimulants or addictive substances are not allowed.
(5) Horror
Images, sounds or language of horror are not allowed.
(6) Vulgar language
Rude or vulgar images, sounds or language are not allowed.
(7) Dangerous and easily imitable behaviors
Images, sounds, or language that encourage or incite children to imitate actions in films, such as drug use; suicide; school violence; weapon use; or other illegal acts.
Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL takes effect from May 20, 2023.
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