Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older in Vietnam

Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older in Vietnam (Internet image)

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam issued Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL dated May 04, 2023 on film rating criteria and display of film ratings and warnings.

1. Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older in Vietnam

Specifically, the criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older (T18 (18+)) in Vietnam are specified in Section 5, Part II of the Appendix issued together with Circular 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.

2. Latest regulations on film ratings in Vietnam

Film ratings determined according to the rating criteria defined in Article 3 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL are arranged in ascending order as follows:

- P rated: Eligible for dissemination to viewers of all ages;

- K rated: Eligible for dissemination to viewers under 13 years old, provided that they are with their parents or guardians;

- T13 rated (13+): Eligible for dissemination to viewers from 13 years old or older;

- T16 rated (16+): Eligible for dissemination to viewers from 16 years old or older;

- T18 rated (18+): Eligible for dissemination to viewers from 18 years old or older;

- C rated: Prohibited from dissemination.

(Article 2 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL)

Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL takes effect from May 20, 2023.

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