Friday, April 17, 2009 10:06
“Zahari 17 Years” continues to be banned in S’pore – BFC
In Main Stories • 1,011 views • 7 Comments
Film maker, Mr Martyn See, submitted six films to the Board of Film Censors on 31 March 2009. The following is the BFC’s letter which was received by Mr See on April 17.
Dear Mr See,
1. I refer to your letter dated 31 March 2009 regarding your submission of six films to the Board of Film Censors (BFC) for classification.
2. Please note that the 2009 amendments to the Films Act are not yet in force. As such, if you would like the BFC to consider the film based on the criteria in the amended Films Act, we would suggest that you collect the films and re-submit them after the amendments come into force.
3. We note that two of the films, “Speakers Cornered” and “Success Stories: Lee Kuan Yew”, were previously submitted and approved by the BFC. “Speakers Cornered” was approved and rated NC16 in April 2008 and “Success Stories: Lee Kuan Yew” was approved and rated PG in May 2007. If the content of the forestate two films has not changed since they were rated, the same ratings will continue to apply. “Riding The Tiger” is a documentary series commissioned by Mica (then Ministry of Information and the Arts) and subsequently aired over Channel NewsAsia in 2000. You may wish to note that Section 40 of the Films Act exempts any film sponsored by the Government from the requirements of the Act. As for the films “Singapore Rebel” and “One Nation Under Lee” we reiterate our suggestion that you collect the films and re-submit them after the 2009 amendments come into force. Should you need more details regarding the films (Amendment Bill), please refer to Second Reading speech on the Films Amendment Bill on Mica’s website.
4. Please be informed that the film “Zahari 17 Years” was previously gazetted by the Minister as a prohibited film under Section 35 (1) of the Films Act as the Minister was of the view that it’s possession or distribution would be contrary to the public interest. As the upcoming amendments to the Films Act do not relate to Section 35 (1), and the Minister has not changed his opinion, “Zahari 17 Years” continues to be a prohibited film. Please note that we will not be releasing this film for your collection as it is an offence for any person to be in possession of a prohibited film under Section 35 (2).
5. Please get in touch with the Customer Services and Operations Division with regards to collecting the rest of the films.
Yours sincerely,
Wang Chee Yann
Head (Films Standards, English)
Board of Film Censors
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7 Comments
lobo76
Elites' law are better than peasants' law
Elites always make the laws to benefit themselves…. That’s how they make themselves look white all the time.
Does that law has any Jurisdiction on Youtube i.e. the rest of the world?
Can the film be accidentally let loose in the internet?
i wonder?
ST Observer
Films Act – no filming of police operations or illegal activities.
Films Act – Minister can disallow any film which he finds “not in the public interest”.
Films Act – Police can confiscate filming equipment.
Public Order Act – Police can order you to “move on” and stop filming and destroy what you have filmed.
There. Checkmate.
PAP remains white as snow.
mike
what’s the difference when one can see all this on youtube?
it a matter of time ppl come to know about it. i did.
plopp
to “3) Does that law has any Jurisdiction on Youtube i.e. the rest of the world? “:
Go Youtube and check, most of those banned videos are all up there.
to “5) mike”:
It makes a difference when the government is only letting us see it on Youtube because they can’t control Youtube. But we cannot “openly” view it offline. Also, when they officially illegalise it, the government can catch you as they please?
Daniel
If the Minister ultimately does allow Zahari 17 Years to be released, for example, next year, could he collect it then? Just curious if they will hold it in storage for him, or if it will be destroyed.
ok.. i didn’t know about this one.
“You may wish to note that Section 40 of the Films Act exempts any film sponsored by the Government from the requirements of the Act.”
So PAP, aka govt, can release any film and not be bound…