KATHMANDU:- The Central Film Censorship Committee (Film Censor Board) has introduced a new guideline titled Film Examination and Classification Procedure, 2082, aiming to prioritise film classification rather than cuts during the censorship process.

Under the new system, the board will classify films according to the appropriate audience group.

Clause 5 of the procedure states that the committee must assess a film’s subject matter, dialogue, visuals, and the impact of elements such as violence, sex, nudity, drugs, language, narrative context, purpose, and core theme, with particular attention to the mental health of children and adolescents, before issuing an age-based certificate and logo for public exhibition.

Film classification is detailed under sub-clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) of the same clause.

Censor Board member Kuber Giri said the new procedure was introduced to make the censorship process more systematic, transparent, and hassle-free. “The focus is on classification, not on using scissors,” he said, adding that no scenes have been cut by the board recently.

Giri claimed that producers and directors often know the nature of their films from the script stage but later seek certificates that do not match the content. He also said some filmmakers remove scenes themselves and later claim publicly that the censor board made the cuts.

The committee has also removed a provision from Clause 7 of the earlier Film Examination Procedure, 2082, which required films to be approved by the board before being screened at festivals. This change follows controversies surrounding the previous procedure.

The new guideline places emphasis on a self-censorship system. Filmmakers are now provided with a form to identify potential censorship-related issues before submission.

According to Giri, self-censorship has made the process smoother, reduced unnecessary hassles, and saved time for both filmmakers and the censor board.