Sensor Board Introduces New Procedure: No More Cuts in Films, Focus Shifts to Classification

Kathmandu. The Central Film Censor Board has implemented a new procedure titled 'Film Examination and Classification Procedure 2082'. This procedure has been introduced with the objective of emphasizing classification rather than cutting scenes in films during censoring.

From now on, the Board will focus on classifying which audience groups are allowed to watch a film. Point number 5 of the procedure covers the subject of classification. 

It states, "The committee must issue a certificate marked with the following logo for public screening by classifying the film into target age groups, keeping in mind the film's content, dialogue, scenes, and the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as violence, sex, nudity, drugs, language, narrative context, objective, and the core theme of the story."

The classification of films is detailed in sub-points a, b, c, and d of this same point.

Kuber Giri, a member of the Sensor Board, stated that the 'Film Examination and Classification Procedure 2082' was introduced to make the film censoring process more organized, transparent, and hassle-free. According to Giri, the current board, including the chairperson and experts, consists of new members, and films are being censored in a new way.

"Since our team arrived, we have been making the film censoring process easier," Giri said. "The emphasis is on classification, not the scissors. In recent times, the Board has not used scissors on any film."

"Producers and directors know from the script stage what kind of film they are making. However, they bring one type of film and ask for a different category of certificate," Giri added. 

"Rather than accepting the classification suited to the film, they themselves bring the film after cutting various scenes, saying they will remove them. After receiving the certificate, they go out and spread rumors that the Board cut the film."

In the 'Film Examination and Classification Procedure 2082', the committee has also removed the seventh point of the previously implemented 'Film Examination Procedure 2082' from December, which stated, "Only films examined and passed by the committee can be screened in festivals, unless the committee has delegated the authority to examine and screen them."

The committee introduced the new procedure after some points of the previously introduced 'Film Examination Procedure 2082' became controversial.

The committee's new procedure also emphasizes a self-censorship system. To make censoring easier for filmmakers, a self-examination (self-censorship) system has been advanced. For this purpose, the Board has also arranged a form. 

Through this, filmmakers can identify errors in their films that might be flagged during censoring. Board member Giri informed that when filmmakers submit their films under self-censorship, it makes the censoring process easier, saves time for both the Board and the filmmakers, and frees filmmakers from various hassles.

"With the advancement of the self-censorship system, filmmakers have recently felt more at ease," says Giri. "This frees the Sensor Board and filmmakers from having to deal with unnecessary hassles."