In October 2003, the Board of Film Censors (BFC) introduced sequential dual ratings for films, which gave film distributors the option to screen two versions of the same movie, sequentially, or one after another, and with the second version categorised under a different rating than the first.

The sequential dual rating system was proposed by the Censorship Review Committee (CRC) in 2003. With the dual rating policy, film distributors now have greater flexibility to serve different market segments.

One Week Gap, New Rating

The policy allows a film distributor to screen the second version of a movie under the new rating, provided the run of the re-rated film starts at least a week after the film’s first season has ended.

There should be a one-week gap between the end of a movie’s run and the start of its second screening under a different rating to avoid confusing the public.

There is no restriction on which version of a movie should be shown first, as long as both ratings have been approved by the BFC.

Prominent Ratings

In addition, film distributors must indicate the film’s ratings prominently on all publicity materials. Distributors and cinema operators can advertise a film’s second run after the first screening is over.

An example of a film that has been released on a dual rating is Lust, Caution in 2007. In this instance, the film distributors initially submitted to the BFC a version that was meant for the China market and which had already contained edits made by the filmmaker, to the sexual scenes in the film.

The BFC rated the edited version of Lust, Caution NC16 with the consumer advice “Scenes of Intimacy”

Subsequently, the film distributors submitted the original version of Lust, Caution with the sexual scenes intact to the BFC for classification. The original version was rated R21 with the consumer advice “Sexual Scenes”.