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Theatres and Cinemas (Censorship) Regulations


Published: 1976-10-07

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THEATRES AND CINEMAS [CH.384 – 3

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CHAPTER 384

THEATRES AND CINEMAS

THEATRES AND CINEMAS (CENSORSHIP) REGULATIONS

(SECTION 6) [Commencement 7th October, 1976]

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Theatres and Cinemas (Censorship) Regulations.

2. In these Regulations — “series of films” means a series of films consisting of

a number of parts not exceeding fifteen, each of which has a playing time of not more than thirty-three and one-third minutes and which are intended to be exhibited on successive dates at intervals not exceeding fourteen days.

3. The provisions of these Regulations shall not apply to plays involving improvision.

4. (1) A synopsis of every film or series of films and of every play intended to be presented at any exhibition or public performance and copies of all posters advertising the same shall be sent to the Board not less than 14 days before the proposed exhibition or public performance with an account of the place where and the time when the exhibition or public performance is intended to be presented.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Board to examine the synopsis of every film, series of films and of every play as aforesaid submitted to it for the purpose of ascertaining whether such film, series of films or play may be approved.

(3) The Board may, after examining the synopsis of a film, series of films or a play as aforesaid request that it be performed for the Board to view before the decision of the Board is given.

(4) On the completion of the examination or viewing of any film, series of films or play, the Board may —

S.I. 106/1976 S.I. 39/1981

Citation.

Interpretation.

Application.

Synopsis of films and plays to be submitted.

CH.384 – 4] THEATRES AND CINEMAS

STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS [Original Service 2001]

(a) approve the same as suitable for exhibition or public performance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (5) of this regulation;

(b) refuse to approve the same; (c) agree to approve the same subject to such

excisions from the film or play as it thinks proper.

(5) If the Board approves a film, series of films or a play as suitable for exhibition or performance to the public, it shall classify such films, series of films or play in accordance with the following classifications:

“A” suitable for universal exhibition or performance; “B” suitable for exhibition or performance to adults

and persons under the age of eighteen years only when such persons are accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult;

“T” suitable for exhibition or performance to any person above the age of fifteen years;

“C” suitable for exhibition or performance to adults only, persons under the age of eighteen years not to be admitted whether accompanied by an adult or not.

(6) The Board shall affix to such film, series of films or play the mark “A”, “B” “T” or “C” as the case may be.

5. No person exhibiting, performing or causing to be exhibited or performed a film, series of films or a play —

(a) classified and marked “B” in accordance with the provisions of regulation 4, shall permit the attendance of persons under the age of eighteen years unless such persons are accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult;

(b) classified and marked “T” in accordance with the provisions of regulation 4, shall permit the attendance of persons under the age of fifteen years whether accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult or not.

(c) classified and marked “C” in accordance with the provisions of regulation 4, shall permit the attendance of any person under the age of eighteen years whether accompanied by an adult or not.

S.I. 39/1981.

S.I. 39/1981.

No exhibition of films or performance of plays other than in accordance with classification.

S.I. 39/1981.

THEATRES AND CINEMAS [CH.384 – 5

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6. (1) The approval of The Board shall not be given in respect of any film, series of films, play or any part of a film, series of films or play which in the opinion of the Board depicts any matter that is against public order or decency or the exhibition or performance of which would for any other reason be undesirable in the public interest.

(2) In the case of a film the exhibition of which is intended to be accompanied by a mechanical reproduction of sound (whether or not the advice or arrangement for such reproduction is an integral part of the film), the Board may take such reproduction of sound into consideration in determining whether or not the film should be approved or in determining what excisions, if any, should be made therefrom.

(3) Where the Board refuses to approve any film, series of films, plays or any part of a film, series of films or play under paragraph (1) of this regulation, the Board shall classify such film, series of films, play or any part as aforesaid as unsuitable for exhibition or public perfor- mance and shall affix thereto the classification “D”.

7. (1) The approval of the Board of any film, series of films or play shall be in writing signed by the Chairman of the Board or by some other member of the Board authorised by the Chairman and shall accompany all films which are passed by the Board for exhibition in The Bahamas.

(2) Prior to the exhibition of any film a Certificate shall be exhibited on the screen stating the following — “This is to certify that all films shown at this performance have received the approval of The Bahamas Plays and Films Control Board”.

8. (1) If any matter is added to a film, series of films or play after it has been approved by the Board, the film, series of films or play shall before exhibition or performance or further exhibition or performance, be again submitted to the Board for examination and unless and until it has again been approved by the Board it shall be deemed not to have been approved.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply where the matter added is the certificate of approval or the mark “A”, “B”, “T”, “C”, or “D” added in accordance with these Regulations.

Approval of Board to be withheld where film or play contrary to public order etc.

Approval to be in writing.

If matter added to film or play after approval film or play to be again submitted to Board.

S.I. 39/1981.