An independent cinema may get permission to self-certify films for screening, under plans set to be considered by Edinburgh councillors.<\/p>\n
The Filmhouse, on Lothian Road, has to seek permission from councillors if it wishes to show films which have not been certified by the British Board of Film Classification.<\/p>\n
Due to the amount of independent films it shows, it ends up needing to request councillors\u2019 permission to screen a film around 10 times a month \u2013 and up to 50 times during festivals.<\/p>\n
And because the approvals can only be granted at a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee, it may take up to a month for the cinema to get approval.<\/p>\n
Now, the city\u2019s Regulatory Committee will on Friday consider an ask from another council committee to change the rules for the Filmhouse\u2019s licence.<\/p>\n
Several possible alternatives were identified by the Culture and Communities Committee, which first discussed the issue in August.<\/p>\n
One is to change the Filmhouse\u2019s licence to allow it to self-certify non-certified films in house, ending the requirement that the council consider films for screening altogether.<\/p>\n
A report to councillors notes that the \u201cknowledge and dedicated programming experience\u201d provides more robust scrutiny of material than through the council\u2019s approvals process.<\/p>\n
Another option would see council officers take over the power to approve or reject films from councillors.<\/p>\n
The report notes that this would remove the possibility of an extensive time delay for approving films, while keeping some level of council oversight of film screenings.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, the report asks for any solutions that could \u201calleviate or reduce the administrative burden\u201d placed on councillors, officers and the Filmhouse due to the requirement.<\/p>\n
It adds that the policy of having the council approve films is still useful for other forms of media, and that the Filmhouse is in a unique situation.<\/p>\n
It names the Edinburgh International Film Festival and one-off filmings of film students\u2019 works as situations where the policy still makes sense.<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n