Publicity Guidelines
Publicity materials for films and videos come in many forms. They can be posters, banners, billboards or advertisements, placed in public places or in various media such as newspapers, magazines and television broadcasts. Much publicity is placed online as well, on websites or as web advertisements.
Whatever form they take, such publicity materials need to follow guidelines set forth by the Board of Film Censors (BFC).
Industry players adhere to these guidelines and self-regulate the publicity materials they propagate. As such, these publicity materials, for all classification ratings, should conform to community standards and not offend the general public.
Publicity Considerations
The BFC advises that industry players consider the following, when planning and managing their publicity and promotional materials:
· overall impact (of the materials and their content)
· location
· standards of decency and propriety generally accepted by community
Guidelines need to be observed in displaying print publicity materials. Some areas of concern that industry players should bear in mind are:
Once a film is classified, posters displayed at public places should clearly display the rating and
consumer advice , if any. If the film or video has yet to be classified by the BFC, the publicity materials should carry the words “Rating to be advised” and subsequently, be updated when the rating is made available.
The display of posters and banners for R21 films should be restricted to cinema lobbies. More sensitivity should also be exercised in the marketing and dissemination of publicity materials for NC16 and M18 films.
While publicity materials are self-regulated by the industry, the BFC will not turn away distributors or companies that submit their publicity materials to the BFC. In such instances, the distributor or company may be in doubt over the visuals or wish to ascertain the BFC’s advice.
View Guidelines on Promotional Materials for Films and Videos
Your Feedback Matters
The feedback of the public is also important within the self-regulatory framework for publicity materials. If members of the public observe publicity material, for a film or video, that they feel is offensive or in breach of
guidelines , they can send feedback
here.