What censorship does a film need to undergo when it is released in China? What are the censorship standards? Why?

Issuing unit: Ministry of Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of China

Promulgation date 19970116

Implementation date 19970116

Chapter title Chapter General Provisions

Article 1 In order to standardize film censorship, ensure film quality, protect the legitimate rights and interests of film producers and

consumers, and promote the construction of socialist spiritual civilization, according to the " Film Management Regulations

Amend the "Interim Provisions on Film Censorship" and formulate these regulations.

Article 2 The state implements a film censorship system.

Films that have not been reviewed and approved by the film censorship agency of the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television may not be distributed,

screened, imported, or exported.

Article 3 The term "film review" as mentioned in these regulations includes the review of film content and the review of film artistic and technical quality.

Article 4 The term “films” as mentioned in these regulations refers to films of various forms and widths, including:

(1) Feature films (including Stage, drama, art films);

(2) Documentaries;

(3) Science and education films;

(4) Art films (including animation, puppets, paper-cutting) films, etc.);

(5) Feature films;

(6) Other films.

Chapter Name Chapter 2 Review Institutions

Article 5 The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television shall establish a Film Review Committee and a Film Review Committee to be responsible for the review of films

and review work.

Article 6 The responsibilities of the Film Review Committee are:

(1) Review the films submitted for review;

(2) Propose modifications to the films submitted for review , deletion opinions;

(3) Make a review decision.

Article 7 The responsibilities of the Film Review Committee are:

(1) Guide the work of the Film Review Committee;

(2) Accept review requests submitted by review units Apply for review of the film and make a review decision

.

Chapter Name Chapter 3 Review Standards

Article 8 The state advocates profound creative ideas, exquisite art, and excellent production, which are well received by the general public

An excellent film with strong appeal and appeal.

Article 9 Movies are prohibited from containing the following content:

(1) Endangering the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country;

(2) Endangering National security, honor and interests;

(3) Inciting national division and undermining national unity;

(4) Leaking national secrets;

( 5) Promote improper sexual relations, seriously violate moral standards, or have obscene content, have strong sensory stimulation, and be seductive and depraved;

(6) Promote feudal superstition and seduce Those who disturb the public and public order of society;

(7) Exaggerate murderous violence, instigate people to despise the dignity of the law, induce crimes, and undermine public security and order;

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(8) Defaming or insulting others;

(9) Containing other content prohibited by state regulations.

Article 10 If certain plots, language or scenes in a film contain the following contents, they shall be deleted or modified:

(1) Contains obscenity Vulgar content that does not comply with moral standards and audience appreciation habits:

1. Inappropriate narration and description of sex and sex-related plots, frontal exposure of male and female bodies;

2. Describe extramarital affairs, unmarried cohabitation and other improper relationships between men and women with a positive attitude;

3. Describe corruption in detail, which may induce people to imitate;

4. Cause strong sensory stimulation Prolonged kissing, caressing scenes, and scenes in bed and bathroom

;

5. Detailed descriptions of fornication, rape, prostitution, whoring, homosexuality, etc.;

< p> 6. Dialogue with vulgar content and low interest;

7. Vulgar and low-level background music, dynamic and sound effects.

(2) Containing murderous and violent content:

1. Beautify the image of the criminal and arouse people's sympathy and appreciation for the criminal;

2. Describe the crime in detail The methods and details may induce and encourage people to imitate criminal behavior

;

3. Stimulating scenes of murder, drug abuse, gambling, etc.;

4. Describe bizarre, absurd, cruel and violent acts that are inhumane.

(3) Containing content that promotes feudal superstition:

1. Detailed descriptions of fortune-telling, praying to gods and divination, and long periods of burning incense, worshiping gods, and worshiping objects

p>

Scenes such as this;

2. Plots advocating religious omnipotence, religious supremacy and showing religious fanaticism.

(4) Scenarios that may cause international, ethnic, or religious disputes;

(5) Scenes and plots that damage the ecological environment and hunt and kill rare wild animals;

(6) Other content that should be deleted or modified.

Article 11 The technical quality of films shall be reviewed in accordance with national standards.

Article 12 A film that has obtained a "Film Release Permit" shall be resubmitted for review when the following circumstances occur

:

(1) ) Plot change;

(2) Name change.

Chapter Name Chapter 4 Review Procedure

Article 13 The film production unit shall, after completing the filming of the film, submit a report to the Film Review Committee

review. Film import business entities shall, after completing the temporary import procedures for film films, submit a request to the Film Examination Committee for review.

The unit submitting the application for review shall pay the review fee in accordance with national regulations.

Article 14 The review of domestic films (including co-productions) is divided into double-film review and standard copy review.

The review of imported films is divided into original copy review and translated copy review.

Article 15 The following physical objects and materials must be submitted for review of a double-edited version of a domestic film:

(1) Double-drama double-drama film;

(2) ) Review application, content includes:

1. Film title, original content, summary, and main creative personnel;

2. Preliminary review opinions of the unit submitting for review;

3. Review opinions of the provincial film authorities where the unit submitting the application is located.

(3) The completed script of the film, including: film length, content, dialogue, subtitles, and scenes

Number one;

(4) The original script of the adapted work Copy of the author's copyright authorization letter.

For Sino-foreign co-production films, the review opinions of the China Film Co-production Company, copies of the co-production film

film contract and copies of the financing contract should also be submitted.

Article 16 To submit original copies of imported films for review, the following physical objects and materials must be submitted:

(1) Original copies;

(2) Application for review , the content includes:

1. Movie title, language, and genre;

2. Name of production manufacturer, country or region;

3. Screenwriter , director, main actors, photographers and other creative personnel list;

4. Brief introduction to the content of the film;

5. Preliminary review opinions of the unit submitting for review.

Article 17 The Film Examination Committee shall submit written review opinions within 15 days from the date of receipt of the mixed double-film or original copy submitted for review, and notify the unit that submitted it for review.

For any film that the Film Censorship Committee proposes to modify, the unit submitting it for review shall propose a modification and implementation plan as required, and submit it to the Film Censorship Committee for approval before modification.

Article 18 After the production of standard copies of domestic films and translated copies of imported films, they shall

be submitted to the Film Censorship Committee for review.

Article 19 The following physical objects and materials must be submitted when submitting standard copies of domestic films for review:

(1) Standard copies;

(2) Approved by the Film Review Committee The agreed implementation plan for modifying the film;

(3) The copy production unit signs a qualified film technical appraisal certificate.

Article 20 The following physical objects and materials must be submitted when submitting translated copies of imported films for review:

(1) Translated copies;

(2) Approved by the Film Review Committee Agreed modifications to the film.

Article 21 The Film Examination Committee shall make a review decision within 15 days from the date of receipt of the standard copy or translated copy.

If the review is passed, an approval order shall be issued; if it still needs to be revised after review, the review unit shall revise it and resubmit it for review in accordance with these regulations; if the review fails, the review shall be revised. The reasons for disapproval shall be notified in writing to the submitting unit.

Article 22 After receiving the review and approval order, the unit submitting for review shall submit the following physical objects and materials

:

(1) Domestic films< /p>

1. One standard copy;

2. Three large 1/2 video tapes with clear sound and picture;

3. Submit a copy to the China Film Archive Copy of return receipt for standard copy.

(2) Imported movies

1. Three large 1/2 video tapes with clear sound and picture;

2. Film distribution signed by both China and foreign parties Copy of contract.

After the procedures for this article are completed, the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television shall issue a "Permit for Public Screening of Films".

Article 23 If film production units and film import business units are dissatisfied with the film review decision

they may file a complaint with the film review decision within 30 days from the date of receipt of the review decision. The Film Review Board applied for review.

The film review committee shall make a review decision and notify the submitting unit and the film review committee in writing.

If the film passes the reexamination, a "Film Release Permit" for the film shall be issued.

Article 24 For a film that has obtained a "Film Release Permit", the Ministry of Radio, Film and Television may make a decision to stop screening or delete it under special circumstances. .

Article 25: The import of feature films for scientific research and teaching reference shall be subject to approval and filing in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 of the "Film

Administrative Regulations".

Chapter Name Chapter 5 Supplementary Provisions

Article 26 Violations of these regulations will be dealt with in accordance with the Film Management Regulations and other

relevant laws , laws and regulations impose penalties.

Article 27 The Ministry of Radio, Film and Television is responsible for the interpretation of these regulations.

Article 28 These regulations shall come into effect on the date of promulgation. The "Interim Provisions on Film Censorship" are also abolished

at the same time.

Let’s talk about some of its key words————————

Key words: censors

According to the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television An unnamed person in charge told reporters that China's current film censorship committee consists of 36 people. These 36 people are not all officials of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, but come from all walks of life. For example, Zheng Dongtian is a professor of the Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy, Yu Yang is a veteran film director, Zhu Xiaozheng is the director of the Cultural Department of the Propaganda Department of the All-China Women's Federation, Yin Hong is a professor of Tsinghua University, Xiao Hong is the director of the Comprehensive Information Department of the General Office of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, etc. . After each film is completed, whether it can finally enter the public eye depends on the decisions of these 36 people. Every time a movie is reviewed, not every committee member has to be present, as long as most of them are present.

Keywords: review steps

It is reported that under normal circumstances, the review of each movie is mainly divided into the following steps. First, the production unit has to review the film itself to ensure that there are no problems with the film's ideological content and technical quality; then, the production unit submits a review application to the film bureau; then the review committee holds a viewing of the film and officially enters the review process . After watching the film, the committee members do not directly vote on whether a certain film can pass the review, but everyone gives their opinions. The more opinions there are, the bigger the problem is with the film; the fewer opinions, the better. If there are too few opinions at all, it will directly pass the censorship. After the committee members have given their opinions, the Film Bureau will reply to the production unit with a "modification opinion" - to this modification opinion, the Film Bureau must respond within 30 days after receiving the production unit's application. The production unit must modify the film according to this "revision opinion" and then submit the film to the review committee for review. If there are no problems, you can get a "film release license" issued by the Film Bureau. If there are still problems, continue to revise until it passes the review. Generally speaking, films sent to the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television for review can pass the review after modifications are made. Taking 2004 as an example, according to Director Tong Gang of the Film Bureau, in 2004, 213 films were sent to the Film Bureau for review, and 212 films finally received a "film screening license."

Keywords: censorship standards

According to a person in charge of the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the current film censorship standards are mainly based on the standards issued by the State Council on December 25, 2001. The "Film Management Regulations" have 11 articles in one regulation. The reporter found from these 11 standards that only one was aimed at the technical and quality issues of the film, such as the depth of the color, the recording of the sound, etc. The other 10 items are all aimed at the ideas and content of the film. For example, it cannot leak national secrets, endanger national security, or harm national honor and interests, it cannot incite ethnic hatred, undermine national unity, it cannot promote obscenity, gambling, violence, or instigate crimes, it cannot Promoting superstition and cults, to name a few.

Finally, let’s look at a few examples————————

Typical cases: Some films that cannot pass censorship are mainly because their content involves pornography, superstition, Violence, underworld topics, etc. are not suitable for the general public, let alone underage audiences. Roughly speaking, there are mainly the following situations.

①The social description of "Xiao Wu" is too marginal

Jia Zhangke's "Platform", "Xiao Wu", "Ren Xiaoyao", etc. all failed to pass the review of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. To sum up, this has something to do with the one-sided description of the corners of society in his works. For example, "Xiao Wu" tells the story of a real thief, a marginalized person living at the bottom of society.

He was not tolerated by society, betrayed by friends, deceived by love, spurned by his family, and even his colleagues scorned him on TV. It seemed that the instructor who had disciplined him still had some compassion for him, but in the end he was still handcuffed to the roadside, where he was looked down upon by passers-by. Some film critics said that although the film is relatively real, it is relatively niche, one-sided and devoid of warmth. Like Jia Zhangke, Wang Xiaoshuai's "Seventeen-Year-Old Bicycle" and Li Yang's "Blind Shaft" are in roughly the same situation.

② "Silver Jewelry" is too "adult"

In March 2005, "Silver Jewelry" directed by Huang Jianxin had already passed the review of the Film Bureau, and even the film's release date had been determined Come down. It turned out that a few days before the film was released, when the film premiered at Beijing Xingmei International Cinema, the production company got the wrong version: they took out the original unabridged copy and showed it. There were a lot of revealing scenes on the screen. The entire audience was in an uproar. After the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television learned the news, it recalled the film the next day for re-examination and asked the production company to revise it again. Later, the producer repeatedly announced that the film would be released nationwide, but it was never able to meet the audience.

③"The Devils Are Coming" has an incorrect historical stance

Jiang Wen's "The Devils Are Coming" failed to pass the review of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, which has attracted the attention of many people in the film industry. The reason is that it involves the historical topic of anti-Japanese war and has a "problematic stance." According to reporters who learned from insiders, part of the film bureau's reply to the film that year was as follows: On the one hand, the film not only failed to show the hatred and resistance of the Chinese people against the invaders in the context of the Anti-Japanese War, but instead highlighted and concentrated Exaggerating its ignorance, numbness, and servility.

The way out of the shipwreck

Although a large proportion of people pass, there are still some people who cannot pass, such as "The Devil Is Coming", "Seventeen-Year-Old Bicycle", "Platform", "Xiao Wu", "Summer Palace", etc. Where is this part of the film going? The reporter learned through extensive interviews that they mainly flow in three directions.

① The mainland distributes some audio and video films to the mainland audience through DVDs.

For example, "Underworld 2", although it was not released in mainland theaters, it was released on genuine DVD in the mainland. Although Jet Li's "Danny the Wolf Dog" was not released in the mainland, it was also released on DVD. Why can audio and video products be distributed in the mainland without passing the review of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television? According to people familiar with the matter, the release and review of audio and video products is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture or local cultural bureaus, while the screen release is the responsibility of the censorship committee of the film bureau. Although the general principles are the same, the review results will still be different for a specific film.

②If the copyright sold overseas cannot recover the cost domestically, it will be taken to the overseas market.

Jia Zhangke's films such as "Platform", "Xiao Wu" and "Ren Xiaoyao" are all very popular in the European market. Later, it entered the mainland market in the form of overseas DVDs, which were just pirated copies. Jiang Wen's "The Japanese Are Coming" has also been released on DVD in Japan. ③ Some of the films flowing to the national warehouse are preserved as historical materials, such as "Seventeen-Year-Old Bicycle", "The Japanese Are Coming", "Alive", "Blue Kite", "Dad", "Blind Shaft", etc. The vast majority of films that fail censorship follow this path. Of course, countries will also preserve films that pass censorship, but for these films, preservation and release are not inconsistent.