DO I NEED TO GET MY FILM CENSORED AND CLASSIFIED?

Yes! All films, whether local or imported have to be censored and classified before they can be sold, hired or publicly exhibited in Nigeria. (Under the enabling law specified categories of films are exempted from censorship and classification). If the film is only to be shown for a limited period at a film festival or at a theatre you may be eligible for an exemption. Visit our website @ www.nfvcb.gov.ng for more on the exemption list and categories of films that cannot apply for censorship and classified. .

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

To apply for a censorship and classification of your film, you need to supply the followings:

• A completed application form

• An adequate synopsis of the film

• A copy of the film

• The censorship fee receipt with the Bank teller attached

• Copyright Authorisation letter if it is a foreign film

Your application will not be processed until all of the required elements have been received.

An adequate synopsis of the film.

The synopsis must be in English and include a summary of any incidents, or the plot depicted in the film and anything that might affect the censorship of the film e.g. including coarse language, sex, nudity and violence. It will in addition dwell on the theme or subject matter of the film.

A copy of the film.

The film must be in the same form in which you intend to distribute it. Under section 18 of the commonwealth classification Act, the Board assumes that the film will be published in the form in which it is considered for censorship and classification. If any changes are made to the film after it is censored the revised version is uncensored and cannot legally be exhibited until it is censored.

The revised version is uncensored and cannot legally be exhibited until it is censored. Advertisement for classified films of the same or a lower classification would not cause it to be a revised film.

• Films with a higher classification than the feature, or that have not been classified, or that have been refused classification, cannot be advertised with your film.

• The copy of the film you submit must be of good quality, the images well defined and the soundtrack clearly audible.

If you submit the film for classification in a form other than the one in which it will be exhibited (i.e. not in 35mm or 16mm), you must also include a statutory declaration or written advice stating why it is not being submitted in the final form and confirming that the content of the final print will be identical to the material that is submitted for censorship.

Note: The Board must be satisfied that the version submitted is complete and adequate for censorship. If the Board decides the submitted version is not complete and adequate you will be notified within 14 days, and invited to submit a more adequate version.

The Board must be satisfied that the version submitted is complete and adequate for censorship. If the Board decides the submitted version is not complete and adequate you will be notified within 14 days, and invited to submit a more adequate version.

Our Censorship & Classification Process

In arriving at classification or censorship decision, the Board has instituted three types of panels, and each serves a different purpose as follows:

Zonal Censorship Committee: This panel is made up of staff members of the Board at the zonal level and may include representatives of other agencies such as the National Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Copyright Commission, as well as representatives of various state governments within the zone. Decisions reached at this level are subject to another committee at the National level at Headquarters - the Verification Panel. Although the members strive to reach a consensus and final decision, a Cumulative Panel may be requested either by a member in a minority position, or by any member wishing to have a wider cross-section of opinion. The zonal censorship committee may issue a provincial classification decision on the film or video works to the applicant which is however subject to final verification by the Verification Panel at the Board's HQ.

This panel is made up of staff members of the Board at the zonal level and may include representatives of other agencies such as the National Broadcasting Commission, Nigerian Copyright Commission, as well as representatives of various state governments within the zone. Decisions reached at this level are subject to another committee at the National level at Headquarters - the Verification Panel. Although the members strive to reach a consensus and final decision, a Cumulative Panel may be requested either by a member in a minority position, or by any member wishing to have a wider cross-section of opinion. The zonal censorship committee may issue a provincial classification decision on the film or video works to the applicant which is however subject to final verification by the Verification Panel at the Board's HQ.

Verification Panel: This panel reviews the decisions reached by the zonal censorship committee. The role of verification panel is to ensure that the zonal censorship committee decision is consistent with the guidelines set out, and to look out for movies which although may be passed in one geographical zone may likely inflame passions in other geo-political zones.

This panel reviews the decisions reached by the zonal censorship committee. The role of verification panel is to ensure that the zonal censorship committee decision is consistent with the guidelines set out, and to look out for movies which although may be passed in one geographical zone may likely inflame passions in other geo-political zones.

Review Panel: This panel is requested and paid for by the producer/presenter or distributor who is dissatisfied with the Board's decision. It consists of eight Members who have not yet seen the film in question. The review committee decision shall be by majority vote, with the chairman having a second or casting vote in the event of tie in votes. The appeal panel's decision is final.

This panel is requested and paid for by the producer/presenter or distributor who is dissatisfied with the Board's decision. It consists of eight Members who have not yet seen the film in question. The review committee decision shall be by majority vote, with the chairman having a second or casting vote in the event of tie in votes. The appeal panel's decision is final.

WHAT IF A VERSION OF MY FILM HAS BEEN CENSORED?

Before submitting an application to the censors Board please refer to previous classification records via the classification database. If you wish to distribute the revised version of a previously classified film you must submit it for classification. Revisions may include director's cuts containing extra scenes and films that have been edited to a shorter version. There is a different schedule of fees in Regulations for classifying a revised version of a film.

WHAT ARE OUR CHARGES FOR CENSORSHIP AND CLASSIFICATION FEES?

Fees for classification and censorship services are set out in the Regulations. The classification fee for a film for public exhibition depends on the running time of the film. If the film is to be released for public exhibition and for sale or hire (i.e. as a video or DVD for retail or rental), you may pay a discounted fee to receive both classifications. Separate applications forms are required payment can be made by cheque, cash deposited in a censors Board designated bank.

I. Films[Author ID1: at Sat Dec 10 07:43:00 2005 ]

Item	Run Time of Films	Nigerian Films in Local language	Nigerian films in English Language	Foreign films	Films meant for Public exhibition
1	0 - 15	N7,500	N20,000	N25,000	+20% of applicable fee
2	16 - 30	N15,000	N30,000	N40,000	+20% of applicable fee
3	31 - 60	N22,000	N40,000	N50,000	+20% of applicable fee
4	61 - 90	N30,000	N50,000	N60,000	+20% of applicable fee
5	91 - 120	N37,000	N60,000	N70,000	+20% of applicable fee
6	121 - 150	N45,000	N70, 000	N80,000	+20% of applicable fee
7	151 - 200	N52,000	N80, 000	N90,000	+20% of applicable fee
8	201 - 300	N60,000	N90, 000	N100,000	+20% of applicable fee
9	More than 300 mins	N65,000	N100,000	N150,000	+20% of applicable fee
10	Fast Track	+50% of applicable fee for all categories

II. TRAILERS

Item	Category	Nigerian Films in Local language	Nigerian films in English Language	Foreign films
1	Classification of trailers	N5,000	N7,500	N7,500

III. OTHERS

Item	Category	Nigerian Films in Local language	Nigerian films in English Language	Foreign films	Public exhibition
1	Cost of Appeal	N5, 000 application fee + The cost of constituting a review committee.
2	Application for Exemption	50% of applicable fee
3	Title Change	N10,000	N10,000	N10,000	N10,000