Extract from Martyn See’s blog, Singapore Rebel:
After you make a film in Singapore, you are required by law to submit your film to the Board of Film Censors (BFC).
If your film has political content, you have two choices – to declare that it is a political film, or not. Even if you don’t, the BFC can still deem your film to be a political film.
Your political film then goes before the PFCC. Although its role is an advisory one, the PFCC’s decision can mean the difference between a red carpet premiere of your film or a maximum term of two years imprisonment or a $100,000 fine. Yes, in case the press hasn’t reminded you – it is a criminal offence to make a ‘party political film.’
It gets worse: Even if the PFCC lets you off the hook, the BFC still retain the final say. Your last hope would be to appeal to a Films Appeal Committee (FAC). If that fails, you will be subjected to a police probe, similar to the one I went through for 15 months for the making of Singapore Rebel.
Here’s the final nail : Even if the PFCC, BFC and FAC lets you off, the Minister can still ban your film under the Section 35 of the Films Act, like my other film Zahari’s 17 Years (The saving grace in Section 35 is that it is not a criminal offence).
Read the full write-up on Martyn See’s blog.
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was discovery channel’s history of singapore (or something like that) considered political film or not? anyone knows?
if its gubbermen appointed, then it must be independent right?
just like judges and all COIs.
Wow, so unbiased and independent. totally independent.
Do we have fundamental rights in Singapore?
better the 7 be paid on part-time, work-&-get-paid basis. cos i doubt they will be busy.
What say you about a Films Amendment Act (II)? :D
Is it a criminal offence to make a “party political film” featuring the PAP in a favourable light? Or conversely the SDP / WP in a negative light?
If your film has political content, you have two choices – to declare that it is a political film, or not. Even if you don’t, the BFC can still deem your film to be a political film.
winner takes all, either way ur still dead meat
Make the film outside of Spore and broadcast it in the Internet lor!
How much do these “7 gatekeepers” cost in taxmoney and how are they relate to PAP government ? Are there conflict of interest ? What is their track record for being objective ?
Obviously the aforementioned questions are not important if one take a look at these gatekeepers.
“MR RICHARD MAGNUS
Retired Senior District Judge and chairman of the Casino Regulatory Authority
MR LIM JIM KOON
Editor of Singapore Press Holdings, Lianhe Zaobao
PROF LILY KONG
National University of Singapore Vice-President, University and Global Relations Office, and Director of the Asia Research Institute
MR TERRY LEE
President of Singapore Insurance Employees Union and member of NTUC Central Committee
MR MUHAMMAD HANIFF
Senior Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University
MR M. RAJARAM
Senior director of law firm Straits Law Practice
MR DANIEL YUN
Managing director of MediaCorp’s movie arm Raintree Pictures”
It’s deja vu all over again! If these Magnificent Seven don’t come up with the right model answers, you can be sure that they will all be ‘marked’ for subsequent extinction or dead end to their careers or free lives. They all know. They all depend on the goodwill of their political masters to show the right cards. Play ball and life goes on without buggeration. If not, they wouldnt know when they or their children will be tripped up, without reasons being given. Conveniently arranged career accidents. So they will automatically do the necessary – produce the model solutions, the politically correct answers. If not, the next layer suffers the same sword of Democles. Management by Expectation – classic Macchiavelli!
Frankly the only disturbing one is :
MR DANIEL YUN
Managing director of MediaCorp’s movie arm Raintree Pictures”
Surely there is a conflict of interest putting the MD of a film company in charge of regulating films, for which there is competition?
With current representation in the house,
is it possible, technically speaking, for any bill and whatever bill not to be passed?
this question is super tough ok , I do not expect people to be able to answer it ok.
Humpty wears invis T-shirt
this is just to inform u not to make any politcal flim unless u are saying pap good if not show it on internet not on media …they are the same they never change..
What credentials do they have at all?! Bunch of puppets.