Vietnam: Agencies having the powers to appraise and approve content of imported cinema works

According to Vietnam’s regulations, any cinema works to be imported into Vietnam must be appraised and approved by the competent agency. According to Circular No. 28/2014/TT-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, powers to appraise and approve content of imported cinema works are specified as follows:

- Vietnam Cinema Department shall receive the documents and grant the permit for film dissemination with respect to:

+ Feature films imported by domestic cinematographic establishments except the feature films owned by local cinematographic establishments that meet conditions for production and import as regulated.

+ Documentaries, science films and cartoons produced or imported by central cinematographic establishments;

- The Service of Culture, Sports and Tourism of central-affiliated provinces and cities shall receive the documents and grant film dissemination permit with respect to documentaries, science films and cartoons imported by local cinematographic establishment. Concurrently, the Service of Culture, Sports and Tourism of central-affiliated provinces and cities shall also receive the documents and grant feature film dissemination permit if in the preceding year, the local cinematographic establishment has met the following conditions:

+ Production of at least 10 feature films (celluloid roll films) that are granted dissemination;

+ Import of at least 40 feature films (celluloid roll films) that are granted dissemination;

Moreover, if such local cinematographic establishment fails to meet two conditions in the year, the Service of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall no longer have the power to grant feature film dissemination permit.

Annually, from December 25 – 31, based on the number of celluloid feature films that are granted dissemination in the year, Vietnam Cinema Department shall be responsible for making notice to the General Department of Customs about the lists of services of culture, sports and tourism that meet conditions for issuance of feature film dissemination permit to local cinematographic establishments in the coming year.

- As for imported cinema works to be aired on TV: General Director of Vietnam Television, directors of radio-television stations of provinces shall be entitled to autonomy and responsibility for airing on television the cinema works imported by themselves.

Entities permitted for import: Entrepreneurs that operate in the domain of import, dissemination and distribution of films; Vietnam Television, radio-television stations of provinces and cities.

View more details at Circular No. 28/2014/TT-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, effective from March 01, 2015.

Thu Ba

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