Culture Ministry responds to film distributor’s complaint

Through the complaint, KRS voiced their concerns over the proposed amendments to the way films will be classified in Malta as a result of the Culture Ministry's revamp of Malta's stage and screen classification.

The proposed amendments - which propose that censorship be abolished in favour of a self-regulating system - were announced last month, in the wake of the 2009 censorship furore, which was sparked off by the twin controversies related to the banning of Unifaun Theatre's Stitching, and the arraignment of student newspaper editor Mark Camilleri over the publication of Alex Vella Gera's short story 'Li Tkisser Sewwi'.

The Ombudsman's recommendations call on government to publish guidelines relevant to film and stage classification and also suggest that the Board publish a report each time they award an age rating to a film.

In response, Minister for Tourism and Culture Mario de Marco said that the proposed amendments were subject to a three-week consultation period which was concluded on 7 February.

"We are currently in the process of reviewing the comments and contributions received as a result of such process," de Marco added.

The Ombudsman also recommended that a report be published each time an age rating is awarded to a film - "in the interests of transparency, accountability and fair decision-making" - and that the new Board be comprised of a varied cross-section of Maltese society, and that at least one board member be well-versed in 'issues affecting children and young people', who ideally be appointed following consultation with the Commissioner for Children.

De Marco said that the Ombudsman's report "refers to a situation in law which is currently under review. The Ombudsman provided an exhaustive assessment of the situation as regarding film classifications, and the ministry shall take the Ombudsman's recommendations presented in his report very much into consideration when drafting the new regulations".

He added that under the new scenario that is being envisaged, the ministry itself will not be responsible for the drafting of guidelines, and that it "will only be able to have indications as to the content of these guidelines once these are drafted, approved, and published by the Film Age Classification Board (in relation to film age classification) and by the Guidance Board (in relation to theatre age classification)".