Film Festivals and Community Screenings
- Exemption requirements films screening at a film festival or event
- How to apply for an exemption
- Adequate synopsis
- Age conditions
- How much will it cost?
- How long will it take?
- The Sydney Film Festival Direction
- Where do I send an application?
- Need more help?
Exemption requirements films screening at a film festival or event
Films that have already been classified in Australia do not require an exemption to screen at a film festival or film event. To find out if a film has already been classified, search the Classification Database for more information.
It is not necessary for you to include details about classified films that will be screened at your festival/event in your application.
Some unclassified films may not require an exemption from classification to screen at a film festival or film event. Under the Classification Act, specific categories of films are exempt from classification because of their content.
More information about these films can be found on the Is it Exempt from Classification page.
How to apply for an exemption
Important note: This information applies to all Australian States and Territories except Queensland and South Australia. To apply for exemption from classification to screen unclassified films at a film festival or event in these states contact:
Queensland
Classification Officer
Department of Justice and Attorney General
17th Floor, State Law Building
50 Ann Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000
Tel: (07) 3404 1456
Fax: (07) 3239 3046
Email: classification@justice.qld.gov.au
South Australia
Office Manager
Attorney-General's Office
SA Attorney-General's Department
GPO Box 464
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: (08) 8207 1723
Fax: (08) 8207 1736
There is no specific application form, so please make sure that the following information is clearly set out within your application before it is submitted:
- the name and activities of the organisation that is mounting the film festival or film event, as well as any information relating to its reputation
- the name of the film festival or event
- the dates over which the film festival or event will run
- the venue(s) at which it will take place
- contact details, including postal address, fax number, email address and daytime phone number, and
- an adequate synopsis of each of the films in the festival or event, including the film length and name of the director and producer.
Your application will not be processed until all of the above items have been received.
Please be aware that, in accordance with the 2007 Film Festival Guidelines [PDF 476KB], exemptions are generally granted under the condition that each film is to be screened a maximum of four times during the course of a film festival/event.
Adequate synopsis
A synopsis is a summary of the plot of the film from the beginning to the end, outlining all major events in the film. The synopsis should be supplied in English and clearly show the levels of any classifiable elements (violence, sex, nudity, coarse language and/or drug use) in the film. A publicity or marketing synopsis that might be used to promote the film in a program or media release is not suitable as it is used to entice an audience and is often exaggerated and incomplete, and missing the ending of the film.
As your request for exemption from classification to screen these films is asking the Director of the Classification Board to make a decision on content without viewing the films, you need to supply a summary of the plot and a thorough explanation of the film’s content in relation to the Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games. Inadequate synopses will not be accepted and may result in exemption being refused.
How to provide an adequate synopsis
An example of the format required is shown below:
Film Title -
Director's Name -
Producer's Name –
Duration -
Summary of plot and thorough explanation of films content.
Classifiable Elements:
| Elements: | Examples that could be included: |
| Themes | racism, drug dependency. |
| Violence | moderate / implied sexual violence |
| Sex | implied / realistically simulated |
| Language | frequent coarse language |
| Drug Use | none |
| Nudity | full frontal nudity |
This film contains classifiable elements approximately corresponding to the G / PG / M / MA 15+ / R 18+ (choose one) classification.
OR:
This film does not exceed any of the classifiable elements corresponding to the G / PG / M / MA 15+ / R 18+ (choose one) classification.
Note: Films containing material that would exceed the classifiable elements corresponding to the R 18+ classification (content that would cause them to be classified X 18+ or RC) will not be granted a film festival exemption.
Age conditions
An exemption from classification to screen unclassified films at a film festival or event is generally issued with an 18+ age condition. Under limited circumstances, the Director may impose variations to an age condition. Any request should clearly outline reasons for lowering the age condition and be supported by a synopsis that clearly shows each film's suitability for the intended audience.
Variations to the 18+ age condition will not be considered unless the requested information is adequately supplied.
How much will it cost?
There is no fee for applying for exemption from classification to screen unclassified films at a film festival or event.
How long will it take?
We ask that all organisers of film festivals and film events make sure that the office receives a complete application with the confirmed dates and final programme listings at least three (3) weeks before the start of the event or any advertising or other relevant deadline that may fall before this date. Late changes will only be accommodated under extenuating circumstances. This is because there are a significant number of applications for exemption and many other applicants with events and film festivals are also seeking exemption at the same time. You can only legally advertise screenings of specific films after the application has been approved by the Director, as it is an offence under State and Territory enforcement legislation to advertise unclassified films.
You will be notified of the Director's decision in the form of a direction within 20 full business days from receipt of a complete application.
Notification will be sent by an email with attachments, so you must supply a valid email address to receive and download the documents. Notification by fax or post will only be considered under special circumstances. If your application is refused you will be notified in writing.
Where do I send an application?
By post
The Director
Classification Board
Locked Bag 3
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
By courier
The Director
Classification Board
Level 5, 23 – 33 Mary St
SURRY HILLS NSW 2010
By email
enquiries@classification.gov.au
Attention: Exemptions Officer
Need more help?
If you have further enquiries you can contact the Classification Exemptions Officer on telephone (02) 9289 7147.
The 2007 Film Festival Guidelines for applying for exemption from classification for films to be screened as part of a film festival or film event also contain further information.
Download:
The Sydney Film Festival Direction
The Sydney Film Festival Direction was issued in May 2004 by the NSW Attorney–General and applies only to the entity known as the Sydney Film Festival.
The Direction is drafted to allow the Sydney Film Festival to show films that have, or might be, refused classification, in addition to certain other unclassified films. The films in question include those that are on the borderline of being refused classification. Screening of these films is subject to strict conditions.