The Ontario Film Review Board is an agency of the government of the Canadian province of Ontario that is responsible for that province's motion picture rating system. The board reports to the Minister of Consumer Services and its activities are based on the Film Classification Act, 2005.
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History
A three-person Board of Censors was established on 27 June 1911 following passage of the Theatres and Cinematographs Act, 1911. The initial members were Chair George E. Armstrong, Robert Wilson and Otter Elliott. From that point, films to be shown in Ontario legally required review and approval by the board.[1]
In 1953, the Board of Censors began to enforce the new Theatres Act which replaced the Theatres and Cinematographs Act.
Further changes to the Theatres Act in 1975 empowered the board to review and censor videotapes and 8 mm film formats as well as conventional theatrical films.[2]
The Board of Censors name was changed to the Ontario Film Review Board by early 1985, after the provincial government amended the Theatres Act.[3]
Classifications
The board uses the following motion picture rating system for theatrical releases in the province:
Ratings used from 1960s - 1986:
- Family - Film appropriate for viewing by a person of any age.
- Adult Accompaniment - Film restricted to persons 14 years of age or older or to persons younger than 14 years of age who are accompanied by an adult.
- Restricted - Film restricted to persons 18 years of age or older.
Ratings used from 1986 - 2001:
- Family - Film appropriate for viewing by a person of any age.
- Parental Guidance - Parents should exercise discretion in permitting a child to view the film.
- Adult Accompaniment - Film restricted to persons 14 years of age or older or to persons younger than 14 years of age who are accompanied by an adult.
- Restricted - Film restricted to persons 18 years of age or older.
The ratings used from 2001 - present:
- General - Suitable for viewers of all ages.
- Parental Guidance - Parental guidance is advised. Theme or content may not be suitable for all children.
- 14A - Suitable for viewing by persons 14 years of age and older. Persons under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. May contain: violence, coarse language and/or sexually suggestive scenes.
- 18A - Suitable for viewing by persons 18 years of age and older. Persons under 18 may attend but must be accompanied by an adult. May contain: explicit violence, frequent coarse language, sexual activity and/or horror.
- Restricted - Admittance restricted to persons 18 years of age and over. Content not suitable for minors. May contain: frequent use of sexual activity, brutal/graphic violence, intense horror and/or other disturbing content.
The primary reason for the addition of the 18A category was films such as Scary Movie and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut[4]
Adult Movies
Adult movies are given a sticker which denotes:
- Title
- Running Time
- Distributor ID
- Approval certificate number
Chairs
Janet Robinson is the board's current Chair. The longest-serving chair was O. J. Silverthorne, who retired from that position after 40 years.[5] The following people were appointed as Chair of the Board of Censors, and subsequently the Ontario Film Review Board.
- June 1911 - George E. Armstrong[1]
- 1920 - A. S. Hamilton (d. 1926)
- 1926 - J. C. Boylen
- 1934 - O. J. Silverthorne
- October 1974 - Don L. Sims[5]
- July 1980 - Mary Brown
- August 1986 - Anne Jones[2]
- September 1989 - Robert Payne[2]
- October 1992 - Dorothy Christian[6]
- September 1994 - Leslie Adams[7]
- August 1997 - Robert Warren[8]
- November 2002 - Bill Moody[9]
- October 2004 - Janet Robinson
References
- ^ a b "Moving Picture Censors Appointed / No suggestive, immoral or obscene films will be passed". The Globe. 28 June 1911. p. 9.
- ^ a b c Annual Report, Film Review Board, 1988/9
- ^ Brunt, Stephen (5 February 1985). "Censors' rules set for films videos". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
- ^ http://www.fradical.com/ontario_film_review_board_adds_new_category.htm
- ^ a b "Broadcaster named Ontario film censor". The Globe and Mail. 5 September 1974. p. 13.
- ^ Annual Report, Film Review Board, 1992/3
- ^ Annual Report, Film Review Board, 1995/6
- ^ (PDF) Annual Report. Ontario Film Review Board. 1999/2000. http://www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/english/Annual%20Report%2099-00.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ (PDF) Annual Report. Ontario Film Review Board. 2002/2003. http://www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/english/Annual%20Report%2002-03.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
External links
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