Date of Enactment 19970116
Date of Enforcement 19970116
Chapter Name Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 In order to standardize the work of censorship of motion pictures, to ensure the quality of the films, to protect the lawful rights and interests of the motion picture producers and
consumers, and to promote socialist spiritual civilization, according to the Regulations on Film Administration
, amend the Interim Provisions on Film Censorship and formulate the present provisions.
Article 2: The State shall implement a film censorship system.
No motion picture shall be distributed,
screened, imported or exported without being examined and approved by the film censorship organization of the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television.
Article 3 The movie censorship referred to in these provisions includes the censorship of the content of the movie and the censorship of the artistic and technical
quality of the movie.
Article 4 The film referred to in these provisions refers to a variety of forms of films of different widths, including
:
(a) feature films (including stage, theater, art films);
(b) documentaries;
(c) educational films;
(d) fine arts films (including animation, puppets, paper cutouts, etc.);
(e) features;
(f) films;
(g) films;
(h) films. p> (E) feature films;
(F) other films.
Chapter Name Chapter II Censorship Organization
Article 5 The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television shall establish the Film Censorship Committee and the Film Review Committee, which shall be responsible for the censorship and review of motion pictures.
Article 6 The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television shall establish the Film Censorship Committee and the Film Review Committee.
Article 6 The duties of the Film Censorship Committee shall be:
(1) to examine the films submitted for review;
(2) to put forward modifications and deletions to the films submitted for review;
(3) to make a decision on the review.
Article 7 The duties of the Board of Film Censors are:
(1) to guide the work of the Board of Film Censors;
(2) to accept applications for review submitted by review units, review the films and make review
decisions.
Chapter Name Chapter III Review Standards
Article 8 The State promotes the creation of excellent motion pictures that are profound in thought, exquisite in art, well-produced, and welcomed by the masses
, and that have a strong attraction and contagious power.
Article 9 Films are prohibited to contain the following contents:
(1) endangering the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state;
(2) endangering the security, honor and interests of the state;
(3) inciting ethnic division and undermining national unity;
(4) revealing state secrets;
(5) promoting improper sexual relations and seriously violating moral standards.
(e) promote improper sexual relations, a serious violation of moral norms, or obscene content, with strong
strong sensory stimulation, inducing depravity;
(f) promote feudal superstitions, demagoguery, disturbing the social order of the public ***;
(g) rendering murderous and violent, instigating contempt for the dignity of the law, inducing crime, and undermining the order of the public security of the community
(H) slander, insult others;
(I) other content prohibited by state regulations.
Article 10 The following contents shall be deleted and
modified if there are any individual plot, language or picture in the movie:
(1) Inclusion of obscene and vulgar contents, which are not in line with the moral norms and the audience's appreciation habits:
1) Improperly narrating and depicting sex and sex-related plots, and frontal nudity of men and women's bodies;
2) Depicting extramarital affairs in an affirmative manner, and in a positive manner. Affirmative portrayal of extramarital love, unmarried cohabitation and other improper relationships between men and women;
3, specific portrayal of corruption, which may induce people to follow suit;
4, cause strong sensory stimulation of the longer kissing, caressing scenes and bed, bathroom
picture;
5, specific portrayal of lewdness, rape, prostitution, prostitution, homosexuality, etc.;
6, specific portrayal of sexuality, rape, prostitution, homosexual, etc.;
6, the use of sex in the media.
6, vulgar content, low-fun dialogue;
7, vulgar, low-level background music and dynamic, sound effects.
(B) mixed with murderous and violent content:
1, glorify the image of criminals, cause people to sympathize with and appreciate criminals;
2, specific description of the means and details of the crime, which is likely to induce and encourage people to imitate the crime
;
3, stimulating images of murder, drug abuse, gambling, etc.;
4
3. depicting bizarre and absurd acts of violence that go against human nature and cruelty.
(C) mixed with the promotion of feudal superstitions:
1, the meticulous description of fortune-telling, divination, and a long time to burn incense, worship, worship
scenes;
2, advocating religious omnipotence, the supremacy of religion, and the display of religious fanaticism of the plot.
(4) the plot may cause international, ethnic and religious disputes;
(5) the destruction of the ecological environment, wantonly hunting and killing of rare wild animals and the plot;
(6) other content should be deleted, modified.
Article 11 of the technical quality of films in accordance with national standards.
Article 12 A motion picture that has obtained a "license for the public exhibition of motion pictures" shall be re-reported for examination in the following cases:
(a) change of plot;
(b) change of name.
Chapter Name Chapter IV Review Procedures
Article 13 A film production unit shall, upon completion of the filming of a motion picture, report it to the Film Censorship Committee
for review. The film importing business unit shall report to the Board of Film Censors for examination after going through the procedures of temporary importation of the film
.
The unit submitting the review shall pay the review fee in accordance with state regulations.
Article 14: The examination of domestic motion pictures (including co-productions) shall be divided into the examination of mixed doubles and the examination of standard
prints. The examination of imported motion pictures shall be divided into the examination of original prints and the examination of translated prints.
Article 15 The following objects and materials shall be submitted to the domestic film mixing double features for examination:
(1) mixing dialogue double features;
(2) application for examination, including:
1, the title of the film, the content of the original film, the content summary, the main creator;
2, the review unit of the preliminary examination opinion;
3, the review unit of the provincial film authority review opinion. The review opinion of the provincial film authority where the unit is located.
(C) the completion of the film script, including: film length, content, dialogue, subtitles, mirror
head number;
(D) a copy of the original author's copyright authorization of the adapted work.
For Chinese-foreign co-produced motion pictures, a copy of the review opinion of the China Film Co-production Corporation, a copy of the co-produced movie
film contract and a copy of the financing contract shall also be submitted.
Article 16 The following objects and materials shall be submitted for the examination of the original copy of an imported movie:
(1) the original copy;
(2) the application for examination, which includes:
1, the name of the movie, language and genre;
2, the name of the producer and the country or region;
3, list of the main cast such as the scriptwriters, the director, the main actors, the cameraman, etc.; and the list of the main actors and cameramen.
3) the screenwriter, director, main actors and actresses, cinematographers, etc.;
4) a brief description of the content of the movie;
5) the preliminary opinion of the unit sent for review.
Article 17 The Board of Film Censors shall, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the mixed double-feature or the original copy of the film submitted for review
, give its opinion in writing and notify the reviewing organization.
Where the Board of Film Censors proposes to modify a film, the reviewing unit shall put forward a revised implementation
plan as required, and send it to the Board of Film Censors for modification upon its consent.
Article 18 The standard prints of domestic films and translated prints of imported films shall be
reported to the Film Censorship Committee for review upon completion of their production.
Article 19 The following objects and materials shall be submitted for the examination of the standard prints of domestic films:
(1) the standard prints;
(2) the implementation plan for the modification of the film as agreed by the Board of Film Censors;
(3) the certificate of technical appraisal of the film as signed by the production unit of the print.
Article 20 The following objects and materials shall be submitted for review of the translated copies of imported films:
(1) translated copies;
(2) the revised implementation plan for the film agreed by the Film Censorship Board.
Article 21 The Board of Film Censors shall make a decision on the censorship within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the standard print or the translated print
. If the review passes, it shall issue an order for the review to be passed; if the review still needs to be
modified, the reviewing unit shall modify it and resubmit it for review in accordance with the provisions of this Article; if the review fails, it shall
notify the reviewing unit in writing of the reasons for failing to pass.
Article 22 Upon receipt of the order for examination and approval, the entity submitting the film for examination shall send the following objects and materials
:
(1) domestic motion pictures
1, a standard print;
2, three videotapes with clear sound and picture in 1/2 size;
3, a copy of the receipt of the submission of a standard print to the China Film Archive.
(2) A copy of the return receipt of one standard print to the China Film Archive.
(2) Imported films
1, three large 1/2 sound and picture clear videotapes;
2, a copy of the film distribution contract signed by both Chinese and foreign parties.
The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television shall issue a License for the Public Showing of Motion Pictures after the formalities of this article are completed.
Article 23 If a film production unit or a film import operation unit is not
satisfied with the decision on the review of a motion picture, it may apply to the Film Review Committee for a review within 30 days from the date of receipt of the review decision.
The Film Review Committee shall make a decision on the review and notify the sending unit and the Film Censorship
Committee in writing.
If the review passes, the film shall be issued a Public Exhibition License for Motion Pictures.
Article 24 The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television
may, under special circumstances, make a decision on stopping the screening of a motion picture or censoring a motion picture that has already obtained a license for the public exhibition of a motion picture.
Article 25 The importation of feature films for scientific research and teaching reference shall be approved and recorded in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 of the Regulations on the Administration of Motion Pictures
.
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 26 Any violation of these provisions shall be punished in accordance with the Administrative Regulations on Films
and other
relevant laws and regulations.
Article 27 These provisions shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television.
Article 28 These provisions shall come into force on the date of publication. The Interim Provisions on Film Censorship shall be
repealed at the same time.
Again, a few of its keywords --------
Keywords: censors
China's Film Censorship Board now consists of 36 people, according to a person in charge of the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) who asked not to be named and told reporters. These 36 people are not all officials of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), but come from all walks of life. For example, Zheng Dongtian is a professor in the directing department of the Beijing Film Academy, Yu Yang is a veteran movie director, Zhu Xiaozheng is the head of the Culture Division of the Propaganda Department of the All-China Women's Federation, Yin Hong is a professor at Tsinghua University, and Xiao Hong is the head of the Comprehensive Information Division of the General Office of the State Administration for Religious Affairs. After each movie is made, whether it will eventually reach the public depends on the decision of these 36 people. And not every member of the committee has to be present when each movie is reviewed, as long as most of them are.
Keywords: review steps
It is reported that, in general, the review of each movie is divided into the following steps. First of all, the production unit themselves have to review once, to ensure that the film in the ideological content and technical quality is not a problem; then, by the production unit to the Film Bureau to submit an application for review; followed by the review committee held to see the film, the formal entry into the review process. After watching the movie, the committee members do not directly vote on whether or not a movie can pass the censorship, but rather, it is up to them to give their opinions. The more comments there are, the more problems the movie has; the fewer comments there are, the better, and if there are none, the movie passes the censorship. After the members have given their opinions, the Film Bureau will reply to the production unit with a "revised opinion"---- This revised opinion must be responded to within 30 days after the Film Bureau receives the application from the production unit. The producer must make changes to the movie according to the "modifications" and then submit the movie to the Censorship Board for review. If there are no problems, the film will be issued a "license for public exhibition of films" by the Motion Picture Bureau. If there are still problems, the film will continue to be revised until it passes the censorship. All films that are sent to the SARFT Film Bureau for review generally pass the censorship after modifications are made. In 2004, for example, according to Tong Gang, the director of the SARFT, 213 films were sent to the SARFT for review, and 212 of them were finally issued with "film exhibition licenses".
Keywords: censorship standards
A person in charge of the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) disclosed to the reporter that the current censorship standards for films are mainly based on the Regulations on the Administration of Motion Pictures issued by the State Council on December 25, 2001, and that there are 11 standards in one ****. The reporter found from these 11 standards, only one is for the film's technical and quality issues, such as the depth of color, sound recording, etc.. The other 10 articles are all aimed at the film's ideology and content, such as not to disclose state secrets, endanger national security or damage the country's honor and interests, not to incite national hatred, undermine national unity, not to promote obscenity, gambling, violence or abetting crime, not to promote superstition and cults, to name a few.
Finally, a few more examples --------
Typical Cases some of the films that could not pass the censorship, mainly because they involve pornography, superstition, violence, triad topics, etc. in their content, which is neither suitable for the general public, much less for underage viewers. Broadly summarized, there are mainly the following cases.
①Small Wu's social depiction is too marginal
Jia Zhangke's The Platform, Small Wu, and Anyone Can Get Away with Murder all failed to pass the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT)'s censorship. To summarize, this has something to do with the one-sided description of the corners of society in his works. Xiao Wu, for example, is about a real-life thief, a marginalized person living at the bottom of society. He is socially unacceptable, betrayed by his friends, cheated in love, spurned by his family, and even his fellow travelers scorn him on TV. It seems that the instructor who used to teach him has some compassion for him, but in the end, he is still handcuffed to the side of the road, leaving him to be stared at by passers-by. Some critics say that although the movie is more realistic, it is relatively niche, one-sided and without warmth. Like Jia Zhangke, Wang Xiaoshuai's "Bicycle at Seventeen" and Li Yang's "The Blind Well" are in much the same situation.
②"Silver" "adult" flavor is too strong
In March 2005, Huang Jianxin directed "Silver" had already passed the review of the Film Bureau, and even the film's release date had been determined. A few days before its release, when the movie premiered at Beijing's Star International Cinema, the production company took the wrong version: it took the original uncensored print out and released it, with a lot of explicit scenes on the screen, and the audience was in an uproar. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), after learning the news, recruited the movie back the next day to review it and asked the production company to revise it again. Later, the production company had repeatedly declared that the movie would be released nationwide, but it never met the audience.
③The historical stance of "Here Come the Ghosts" is not correct
Jiang Wen's "Here Come the Ghosts" failed to pass the censorship of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), which had aroused the concern of many insiders in the movie industry. The reason for this is that it involves the historical topic of anti-Japanese and "has a problematic position". According to the reporter learned from the source, the film bureau of the year on the film part of the reply is as follows: the film on the one hand, not only did not show in the context of the anti-Japanese war, the Chinese people's hatred of the invaders and resistance, but also highlights and concentrates on exaggerating their ignorance, numbness, slavery.
Sinking Ship Way Out
Despite the large percentage that passed, there were ultimately those that couldn't, such as "Here Come the Ghosts," "Seventeen Years Old Bicycle," "Platform," "Xiaowu," and "Summer Palace," among others. What is the destination of this part of the movie? The reporter learned through a lot of interviews that they have three main flows.
①Mainland distribution audio and video of some films through the way of video discs to meet with the mainland audience.
Such as "Triad 2", although not released in mainland theaters, but in the mainland issued a genuine DVD. Jet Li's "Danny the Wolfhound" was not released in the mainland, but also issued a DVD. did not pass the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television censorship, but why can still be in the mainland audio-visual products issued? According to informed sources, the Ministry of Culture or local cultural bureaus are responsible for the distribution of audiovisual products, while the censorship committee of the Motion Picture Bureau is responsible for screen releases. Although the general principle is the same, the result of censorship varies from one movie to another.
②Overseas sold rights can not recover the cost in the domestic market, then get the overseas market.
Jia Zhangke's "Platform," "Xiaowu" and "Anyone Can Go" were all very popular in the European market. It then trickled into the mainland market in the form of overseas video discs, only pirated. Jiang Wen's The Ghosts Are Coming was also released on DVD in Japan.③ Flowing to the National Warehouse There are also some films that have been preserved as historical materials, such as Bicycle at Seventeen, The Ghosts Are Coming, Staying Alive, The Blue Kite, Papa, and The Blind Well. The vast majority of films that did not pass censorship went down this path. Of course, the state preserves the films that pass censorship, except that for these films, preservation and release do not contradict each other.