Irish Film Classification Office

Established:	1923
Acting Director of Film Classification	Ger Connolly
Deputy Director	Vacant
Budget:	Unknown
Employees:	21

The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) is the organisation responsible for film and some video game classification and censorship within the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. Where restrictions are placed by the IFCO, they are legally binding.
Prior to 21 July 2008, the office was branded as the Irish Film Censor's Office, and was previously known as simply the Film Censor's Office, or, in legal references, the office of the Official Censor of Films, which was the official title of the head of the office prior to that date. The head of the office is the Director of Film Classification.

Background

The Irish Film Censor's Office was set up in 1923, in accordance with the Censorship of Films Act, 1923. This law was amended in 1930, 1972 and 1990; and a substantial revision of the law occurred in the Video Recordings Act, 1989 which extended the remit of the office to the regulation of the video importation and supply industry. On 21 July 2008 the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 came into force. Section 70 changes some of the provisions with regard censorship of films in the State. Section 71 renames the Film Censor as the Director of Film Classification and consequent to this, the Irish Film Censor's Office became the Irish Film Classification Office.

Staff

The office consists of 21 staff members:

• Acting Director of Film Classification - Ger Connolly
• Deputy Director - Vacant
• 10 Assistant Classifiers
• Office Manager
• 6 Civil Servants
  Civil service of the Republic of Ireland
  The Civil Service of Ireland is the collective term for the permanent staff of the Departments of State and certain State Agencies who advise and work for the Government of Ireland. It consists of two broad components, the Civil Service of the Government and the Civil Service of the State...
  
   from the Department of Justice and Law Reform
• 2 Projectionists

The 10 assistant classifiers are paid €168 per day and are entitled to claim expenses on top of this. According to a freedom of information request granted to the Irish edition of the Sunday Times the assistant classifiers claimed €306,683 and expenses of €52,569 in 2007; €339,608 in fees and €49,898 in expenses in 2008; and €162,263 in fees and €21,401 in expenses for the first half of 2009. This equates to a payment of approximately €60 per film rated.

Cinematic certificates

The current cinematic certificates that are issued are:

• G – General - Suitable for all
• PG – Parental Guidance - Parents are advised to accompany younger children
• 12A – Minimum age for admission is 12, but younger children can be admitted if accompanied by an adult
• 15A – Minimum age for admission is 15, but younger children can be admitted if accompanied by an adult
• 16 – Minimum age for admission is 16.
• 18 – Minimum age for admission is 18

DVD/VHS certificates

The current certificates for DVD and VHS that are issued are:

• G – General - Suitable for all
• PG – Parental Guidance - Parents are advised to watch with children younger than 12 years old
• 12RA (no longer used) – Not suitable for people aged younger than 12 unless they view with an adult, and not to be supplied to someone below that age. Extremely rarely used, the cert was used on Father of the Bride
  Father of the Bride
  Father of the Bride may refer to the following:*Father of the Bride , starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor*Father of the Bride , remake of the 1950 film, starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Martin Short...
  
  
• 12 – Suitable for people aged 12 and over, and not to be supplied to someone below that age
• 15 – Suitable for people aged 15 and over, and not to be supplied to someone below that age
• 18 – Suitable for people aged 18 and over, and not to be supplied to someone below that age

NOTE: In "12RA" the "RA" denotes "Responsible Adult"

Standard cinematic-DVD/VHS certification crossover

This is the crossover, or change, in a certificate that will happen when a film which has been shown in cinemas, is released on DVD/VHS, BUT this only applies if:

• There is no extra material (bonuses, trailers, etc.) which is not appropriate to the main feature, and would cause it to receive a higher certificate.
• The film has not been edited (material taken out, etc.) in a way which would cause the main feature to receive a lower certificate.

If the above information applies to a DVD/VHS release, please see below the table.

The standard crossovers are as follows:

Cinema Certificate	DVD/VHS Certificate
G	G
PG	PG
12A	12
15A	15
16	15/18
18	18

* The certificate "12RA" does NOT have a corresponding cinematic certificate, and thus, does not have a standard crossover (certain 12A films received the certificate before it was withdrawn in the early 2000s).

If the two rules above apply to a film's DVD/VHS release, then, generally, it will be re-rated completely, but this does not mean DVD/VHS certificates will always coincide, as occasionally (usually the DVD) one edition will contain extra features while the other doesn't, causing one to be re-rated, and the other to take a Standard Crossover (for instance, a film which received a 15A certificate in cinemas may receive a 15 certificate on VHS but an 18 certificate on DVD; usually DVDs in these circumstances will carry a label on the reverse, informing you of this).

DVD/VHS

Until February 2009, the DVD/VHS certificates were always the certificate surrounded by an octagon, followed by the words "FILM CENSOR'S OFFICE" and "OIFIG SCRÚDÓIR NA SCANNÁN", which were then surrounded by another, larger, octagon. The colours were cyan and white, but the order they appear in varied. Although the Office was renamed in July 2008, these continued to bear the old name until February 2009, where they were altered to read "IRISH FILM CLASSIFICATION OFFICE" and its Irish equivalent.

Video games

Unlike the BBFC

British Board of Film Classification

The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...

 in the UK, which rates video games that meet certain criteria (such as very graphic violence), the Irish Film Censor's Office does not usually rate video games, leaving ratings to PEGI

Pan European Game Information

Pan European Game Information is a European video game content rating system established to help European parents make informed decisions on buying computer games with logos on games boxes. It was developed by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe and came into use in April 2003; it...

, unless the game's content is deemed prohibitable under section 3 (1) of the Act. Games rated by the IFCO include Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

is a stealth action video game directed by Hideo Kojima, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 in 2001....

 and Manhunt

Manhunt (video game)

Manhunt is a stealth game developed by Rockstar Games. It was released to the public on November 18, 2003 for the PlayStation 2 console, and on April 20, 2004 for Xbox and PC. Although it was generally well-received by critics, Manhunt created a controversy due to the graphic violence the player...

, which were given 15 and 18 ratings, respectively.

Despite the lack of legally binding ratings, most (if not all) video game retailers attempt to prohibit the sale of PEGI 18+ rated games to people under the age of 18, and prior to PEGI ratings the same was done with BBFC 18 ratings on games (the same packaging is usually used in games sold in Ireland as in the UK).

The only prohibition notice for a video game was issued for Manhunt 2

Manhunt 2

Manhunt 2 is an action/adventure video game developed by Rockstar Games and the sequel to 2003's Manhunt. The game was released in North America for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii on October 29, 2007....

 in 2007 (which was re-rated 18).

Appeals

All decisions made with regard to certification, may be appealed for up to 6 months after the certificate is initially issued. An appeal is issued to the Classification of Films Appeal Board.

Works may also be submitted for re-classification after seven years since the original certification have passed (not an appeal per se, but rather seen as an update of classification based on current standards)

Refusals and bans

Films may be refused a certificate, e.g. on grounds of obscenity. Such films may not be shown in public cinemas or sold in shops, but are not ipso facto banned and have been shown at film festivals and art house

Art film

An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...

 clubs such as the Irish Film Institute

Irish Film Institute

The Irish Film Institute is both a film theatre and a national body that supports Irish Film heritage. It maintains an archive of Irish films and provides education in film culture. It shows independent and foreign language films overlooked by commercial multiplexes at its cinema in the Temple Bar...

. These may also show films which have not been submitted for certification, as the submission fee may be prohibitive if a film is screened only a few times at a small venue.

Despite the recommendations in the 2000 review of certification that no further films be banned, bans are still occasionally issued, although usually overturned on appeal. Boy Eats Girl

Boy Eats Girl

Boy Eats Girl is a 2005 horror film directed by Stephen Bradley and starring Samantha Mumba, produced and shot in Ireland. The plot tells of a teenage boy who comes back to life as a zombie, similar to the plot of the American film My Boyfriend's Back....

, a 2005 movie, was initially banned, with the option of a cut being provided to the producers. On appeal, the film was passed uncut, and granted a 15A rating.

Movies which are never submitted for cinema release in Ireland are occasionally banned on attempted video releases, although only one such order was made in 2004, banning the pornographic Anabolic Initiations 5 (IMDb link), with the appeals board upholding the censor's order. One order was issued in 2005, reiterating the ban on Deep Throat

Deep Throat (film)

Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....

. The only order in 2006 banned the pornographic film Steal Runaway.

Films and videos banned by the Classifier/Censor include:

Title	type	year	lifted
I Spit On Your Grave I Spit On Your Grave Day of the Woman is a 1978 controversial rape revenge film. The film received a limited release, with a wider release in 1980. Prominent film critics condemned the film for its graphic violence and lengthy depictions of gang rape, and the motion picture remains controversial to this day...	film	2010
Manhunt 2 Manhunt 2 Manhunt 2 is an action/adventure video game developed by Rockstar Games and the sequel to 2003's Manhunt. The game was released in North America for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii on October 29, 2007....	video game	2007	lifted
I Love to Fantasize	film	2007
Love @ First Byte	film	2007
Wild Cards	film	2007
From Dusk Til Porn	film	2007
Sizzling Sex Stars	film	2003
Swingers Vacation 2: Secret Games	film	2003
Vampire Vixens	film	2003
Blue Hotel: Caught in the Act	film	2003
Blue Matrix	film	2003
Bad Lieutenant Bad Lieutenant Bad Lieutenant is a 1992 crime-drama film directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Harvey Keitel as the eponymous "bad lieutenant". The screenplay was written by actress-model Zoë Lund. She also played a small role in the film. Lund had been discovered by Ferrara and had starred in his earlier film, Ms...	film	2003
Dracula's Dirty Daughters	film	2003
Baise-moi Baise-moi Baise-moi is a French film co-directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, released in 2000. It is based on the novel by Despentes, first published in 1999. The film received intense media coverage because of its graphic mix of violence and explicit sex scenes...	film	2002	lifted
Better Sex III: How To Give a Woman Pleasure	film	2002
Dark Garden	film	2002
Showgirls Showgirls Showgirls is a 1995 American drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring former teen actress Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon...	film	1995	lifted
Natural Born Killers Natural Born Killers Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...	film	1994	lifted
Man Bites Dog Man Bites Dog (film) Man Bites Dog is a darkly comedic crime Belgian mockumentary starring Benoît Poelvoorde. In the film, a crew of filmmakers follow a serial killer, recording his crimes for a documentary they are producing...	film	1992	lifted
Meet the Feebles Meet the Feebles Meet the Feebles is a 1989 black comedy film directed by Peter Jackson. It features Jim Henson-esque puppets in a perverse comic satire. Like Henson's Muppets, the Feebles are animal-figured puppets assembled together as members of a theatre troupe...	film	1989
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life	film	1983	lifted 1990
Porky's Porky's Porky's is a 1982 comedy film about the escapades of teenagers at the fictional Angel Beach High School in Florida in 1954. It was released in the United States in 1982, and spawned two sequels: Porky's II: The Next Day and Porky's Revenge! and influenced many writers in the teen film genre...	film	1982	lifted
The Evil Dead The Evil Dead The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...	film	1981	lifted
Monty Python's Life of Brian Monty Python's Life of Brian Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film written, directed and largely performed by the Monty Python comedy team...	film	1979	lifted 1987
Debbie Does Dallas Debbie Does Dallas Debbie Does Dallas is a 1978 pornographic film starring Bambi Woods. The plot of the film focuses on a team of cheerleaders attempting to earn enough money to send the title character to Dallas, Texas, to try out for the famous “Texas Cowgirls” cheerleading squad. The fictional name "Texas...	film	1978
Emmanuelle Emmanuelle Emmanuelle is the lead character in a series of French softcore erotic movies based on a character created by Emmanuelle Arsan in the novel Emmanuelle...	film	1974	lifted
Deep Throat Deep Throat (film) Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....	film	1972	lifted
A Clockwork Orange A Clockwork Orange (film) A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of Anthony Burgess's 1962 novel of the same name. It was written, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick...	film	1971	lifted 2000
Get Carter Get Carter Get Carter is a 1971 British crime film directed by Mike Hodges and starring Michael Caine as Jack Carter, a gangster who sets out to avenge the death of his brother in a series of unrelenting and brutal killings played out against the grim background of derelict urban housing in the city of...	film	1971	lifted
Brief Encounter Brief Encounter Brief Encounter is a 1945 British film directed by David Lean about the conventions of British suburban life, centring on a housewife for whom real love brings unexpectedly violent emotions. The film stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey...	film	1945
The Great Dictator The Great Dictator The Great Dictator is a comedy film by Charlie Chaplin released in October 1940. Like most Chaplin films, he wrote, produced, and directed, in addition to starring as the lead. Having been the only Hollywood film maker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was...	film	1940	lifted

Criticism

Like many systems of entertainment classification the IFCO has been subject to backlash for several decisions they have made in the past. Most accusations stem from the board being considered too overzealous and conservative. Many titles that receive 15 certificates from the BBFC are rated 18 by the IFCO. Three titles in particular have garnered the board much harsh criticism; Election, But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, an apparently happy heterosexual high school cheerleader...

 and Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...

. While the films have little or no violent or sexual content (and are rated 15 by the BBFC) all three were given 18 certificates in Ireland, leading many to believe the certificates were given solely due to the homosexual content of the films.

However, Brokeback Mountain was rated 16 by IFCO when it was released in cinemas (its 18 rating is only on DVD). '15' in Britain means that the film is only suitable for those aged 15 years old or older, while in Ireland, the 15A-rating admits under-15s if they are accompanied by adults. 16 is an over-16 only rating, meaning that anyone under 16 will not be admitted, regardless of parental supervision, resulting in a substantial increase in adult content. Because of this, many films rated "16" for cinema, are raised to "18" for DVD or Blu-ray as there is no "16" rating for home entertainment in Ireland.

Because the IFCO is established on a statutory basis, the appeals procedure is final. Thus, where a decision by the censor to ban a film or video game is made and this ban is approved by Classification of Films Appeal Board there is no further grounds of appeal, only the option of resubmission after seven years.

External links

• Official website - Irish Film Classification Office
  • Article in the Independent