A NEW body formed subsequent to the liberalisation of a ban on so-called 'party political films' has assured film-makers it will engage them before making a decision on the fate of their films.
The Political Films Consultative Committee (PFCC) will ask a film-maker to clarify the intent of the film before deciding whether it should be allowed for public screening, said its chairman Richard Magnus on Tuesday.
INTENT OF FILM MATTERS
'The intent, and not just the specific elements within the film, is an important element in determining if a film should be allowed.'
Political Films Consultative Committee chairman Richard Magnus
'The intent, and not just the specific elements within the film, is an important element in determining if a film should be allowed,' he said.
Introducing the seven-member committee, he also explained its charter and the procedures it will undertake when making its decisions.
To establish intent, the committee could, for instance, draw up a list of queries after reviewing a film, he said.
The queries could include whether the film-maker took steps to verify the accuracy of the content, why the film was made and the costs incurred in making the film, he added.
Until this March, Singapore had in place a wide-ranging ban on political films in the Films Act, which defined these broadly as advertisements for Singapore political parties, or made by an individual with political intent.
The ban was eased in March following recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (Aims).
Some political films will be allowed, but not those which distort or sensationalise the truth, as the Government said when the Films Act was amended in Parliament. In addition, film-makers are still required to submit their films for classification online with the Board of Film Censors (BFC).
They can opt to declare at the outset that their film is political, in which case the film will be sent to the PFCC for assessment.
Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
