Agenda item

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory is to advise Members of an application for the certification of films to be shown within the Cinema Tent at Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Thorner Lane, Leeds, LS23. The exhibition of these films will take place between Thurs 26th and Sun 29th August 2021.

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory advised Members of an application for the certification of films to be shown within the Cinema Tent at Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Thorner Lane, Leeds, LS23. The exhibition of these films is to take place between Thurs 26th and Sun 29th August 2021.

Members were informed of an application which had been received from Film Oxford, on behalf of Festival Republic, to have a number of short films certified as they were not currently certified by the BBFC. The films are to be shown in the Cinema Tent of the Leeds Festival site, within the grounds of Bramham Park.

Members had been provided with current BBFC Classification Guidelines which were appended to the report at Appendix A.

A list detailing the films that request certification which includes a link to view the films online, a synopsis, the applicant’s recommended rating and comments added by Licensing Officers, was appended to the submitted report at Appendix B. The document includes redactions as the supplied links direct the observer toward unclassified content that some viewers may find offensive. The original copy of the list had been provided to Members of the Licensing Sub Committee in advance of the hearing.

Members noted that the Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, do have the

benefit of a premises licence authorising the exhibition of films for this year:

·  Thurs 26th August 2021 19:00 until 03:00 the following day

·  Fri 27th to Sun 29th August 2021 12:00 until 06:00 the following day

 A representative from Film Oxford, Marvin Belle attended the hearing to give additional details of the films and to answer any questions the Licensing Sub Committee may have.

Members had read the synopsis, and the comments provided by the officers. Members had viewed some of the films including Mandem and Seeds of Love. Members raised concerns in relation to both these films:

·  Mandem – They were of the view that this film normalised drug use,  glamourised drug dealing and did not portray the nastier side of drugs. They also had concerns that 12 year olds may not be mature enough to fully understand this film.

·  Seeds of Love – Concerns raised in relation to the graphic content and references to sexual acts. They recognised that the film is about grief and that the graphic scenes were pixilated. 

In response to questions from Members Mr Belle provided the following information:

·  The films would be shown in the film tent after the bands had finished playing. The tent would be open on most nights from midnight with films classified as 15 being shown about 2:00am.

·  It was noted that most of the films to be shown at the festival were directed by men. However, Mr Belle confirmed that usually the films shown were directed by an equal number of men and women. The films chosen were to grab people’s attention as they wandered in and out of the tent.

·  Posters would be displayed to show the certification of each film and stewards would be verifying that those persons entering the tent were age appropriate.

RESOLVED – That the Leeds Festival Shorts 2021 Classifications be as follows:

The meeting concluded at 10:35