Saskatchewan cuts ‘antiquated’ movie-rating rule

The Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon will display its movie advisories on its website (Allison Bamford/CTV News).

SASKATOON - Saskatchewan filmmakers are hopeful more independent films will play on the big screen now that the province scrapped an antiquated rating system.

As of April 1, movies no longer require an age-based rating from the government before they can be screened in Saskatchewan theatres.

Saskatoon filmmaker Craig Silliphant says the rule change opens the door for new voices in the industry to share their perspectives.

“Telling these local stories matters,” he said. “It’s really the fabric of our community and our history.”

Under the old legislation, films needed to receive an age-based rating, such as G, PG, 14A, 18A or R, from a classification authority in order to premiere in Saskatchewan theatres. The process cost hundreds of dollars.

Silliphant was one of the last filmmakers to apply for the mandatory classification under the old rules.

He paid $440 for the government rating to have his film “How Chee” screened at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon earlier this month.

The rating fee was the biggest cost that his zero-budget film incurred.

“That’s a line item on a major Hollywood production,” he said. “But for a local, underground filmmaker that could be your fees to festivals.”

ScreenSask, the province’s film and television industry association, says the change makes Saskatchewan a more desirable province for filmmakers to show their movies.

The province is entering its busy season for production. ScreenSask executive director Robert Hardy is hoping to see some of this year’s made-in-Saskatchewan movies take advantage of the new rules.

“It just made it easier and more affordable. What that means is more opportunity for Canadians to see Canadian movies that they wouldn’t be able to otherwise,” Hardy said.

Lenore Maier, executive and artistic director at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon, said the theatre often applied for ratings on behalf of filmmakers to help ease the burden.

In some cases, Maier was the one who had to inform filmmakers about the requirements.

“This will be one less barrier for artists and a win for Saskatchewan filmmakers,” she said.

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA), which regulates films in the province, replaced the rules with a “modernized framework for informing Saskatchewan consumers about film content.”

Saskatchewan is following in the footsteps of Ontario, which removed its rating system in 2019.

The new framework requires theatres to come up with their own written advisories that warn viewers of any explicit content.

If a film has previously been classified under the old system, theatres can use those ratings.

Maier said the theatre will display its advisories on its website within the description of each movie that’s playing. She doesn’t believe it will add much to the theatre’s workload.

“It’s just part of the job to make sure that we’re advertising the things that are on our stage and on the screen,” she said.

“If there’s explicit language or nudity or violence, we want folks to be able to understand that coming in.”

Film expert Richard Crouse says the new rules take away government control and put the onus on individual movie theatres.

“With that could potentially come some inconsistencies as you move from theatre to theatre, or theatre chain to theatre chain,” Crouse told CTV News.

It will also be up to parents to read the advisories and decide if they want their children watching certain movies.

Are ratings still relevant?

The new framework “modernizes” the idea of movie ratings in the age of streaming, Crouse said, calling the changes “pro-business.”

Streaming services display trigger warnings, but don’t have to issue age-based ratings and anyone regardless of age can access the movies.

“The ratings simply aren’t there and that has made streamers seem a bit more modern and forward-thinking and theatre chains, who had to work under this government rule, seem antiquated and a little bit old-fashioned,” Crouse said.

Maier agrees the age-based rating system was a bit outdated. She thinks advisories still hold value for viewers and the new framework will give moviegoers a better understanding of the films before they watch them.

“One 13-year-old might be ready to view some pieces of art, while another 13-year-old might not be,” she said. “Age is really just a number. Maturity and readiness are something that’s very different.”

Adult films will continue to have age-based restrictions in Saskatchewan that prohibit the sale, rental and viewing to those under the age of 18, according to the FCAA.