A new Irish language film has been given a unique 16 certificate by Belfast City Council, following classification standards in the Republic of Ireland.
For the second time this month Belfast Council has introduced a new film classification to Northern Ireland, by giving a 16 rating to an Irish Language film entitled “Foscadh,” meaning shelter.
A decision was taken under delegated authority by the Strategic Director of Place and Economy to approve the exhibition of the film in cinemas in Belfast on March 11 as part of an Irish Film Festival.
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The Irish Film Classification Office gave a rating of 16, which had not existed here before the council officer decision. Councillors noted the decision at the council’s Licensing Committee on Wednesday (March 16).
The council licensing report states: “Until recently it has been rare for a licensed cinema to seek permission to show a film that has not been through the British Board of Film Classification process.
“However, with the development in the local creative industries and filmmaking sector here more films are being produced locally, many of which are unclassified or not classified by the BBFC, but the demand for them to be screened in local cinemas is growing.”
At the start of the month the full Belfast council agreed to follow IFCO classification and give The Batman a rating of 15A, allowing adult guardians to take under 15’s to the film.
This was against the British Board of Film Classification’s 15 rating for the film, which allows no one under the age of 15 to see the movie in the UK.
Future screenings of Foscadh are potentially planned for Omniplex cinema at the Kennedy Centre, the Movie House at Yorkgate and the Odeon in the city centre.
The council report states: “Normally approval to permit the film to be exhibited is considered and given by the Licensing Committee. In this instance the request was received after the February Committee meeting and the March Committee meeting was too late to consider the request for the proposed screening on March 11.
“Discussions took place with Legal Services as to the options available to the council and therefore the Strategic Director of Place and Economy under his delegated authority.
“As there is no equivalent BBFC 16 rating that can be applied, three options were identified as lying within the council’s legal remit - to agree to the film being shown with a 15 BBFC rating, to agree to the film being shown with an 18 BBFC rating, or agree to the film being shown and advertised as having a 16 IFCO rating.
“As the film has not been classified by the BBFC and there is no equivalent 16 rating, it was not considered appropriate for officers to determine whether it should be shown with a BBFC 15 or 18 rating.
“Guidance from IFCO would suggest that a 16 rating is applied to films that would have historically been rated as an 18. The IFCO rating states that there is strong nudity/sex, violence and language in this film.
“The matter was discussed with the Chair of the Licensing Committee and the appropriate course of action was considered to be that the film should be allowed to be shown and advertised as having an IFCO classification of 16 only.”
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