Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers of all ages in Vietnam

Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers of all ages in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam promulgates Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL dated April 5, 2023 stipulating expenditures on film classification and display of movie classification levels and warnings.

1. Latest film rating criteria in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL, films shall be rated according to the following criteria:

- Theme and content;

- Violence;

- Nudity and sex;

- Drugs, stimulants and addictive substances;

- Horror;

- Vulgar language;

- Dangerous and easily imitable behavior.

2. Criteria for film rating eligible for dissemination to viewers of all ages in Vietnam

Specifically, the criteria for classifying films that are allowed to be disseminated to viewers of all ages are detailed in Section II of the Appendix issued together with Circular 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.

3. General principles of film rating in Vietnam

Film rating in Vietnam as per Article 2 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL shall adhere to the following principles:

- Children and other vulnerable viewers must be protected from content that is inappropriate or likely to have negative impacts;

- Film rating must be based on the manner of expression; specific situations and contexts; interactivity; frequency; duration; level of detail of images, sound, lighting, and dialogue; and the level of impact on viewers, in which the importance of the context and the level of impact on viewers and listeners are priority factors in rating a film;

- A film is rated at a lower level when:

= Its content is depicted verbally rather than visually;

= The images of the film have a low level of impact.

- A film is rated at a more stringent level when its content:

= Contains more details, including close-ups and slow motion;

= Uses highlighting techniques such as lighting, perspective, and resolution;

= Uses special effects such as light, sound, noise, resolution, color, image size, characteristics, and tones;

= Is realistic instead of stylized;

= Encourages interaction;

= Has an impact at a level increased by a combination of rating factors.

- A film that is in the middle of the given ratings may be rated at a lower level if it has a way of handling the situation and the situation-handling result conveying an educational and humane message, praising moral and social values, and having positive impacts on viewers.

(Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular 05/2023/TT-BVHTTDL)

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

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