Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director (Governance & Legal) - A.1 - Application fro the Grant of Permission to Show Unclassified Film

To determine a request for the licence holder to show to the public a number of short films that has not been classified by the British Board of Film Classification.

 

The request to show the short film has been made by Michael Offord of Electric Palace Harwich on behalf of the Harwich International Shanty Festival. The film would be shown at the Electric Palace Harwich between 11 October 2024 and 13 October 2024.

 

Minutes:

The Sub-Committee heard that The Electric Palace at Harwich gave the opportunity to local film makers to show their films to the public through various public events. The Electric Palace, Harwich wanted to support local and regional talent and, as an exhibitor of films, the best way they felt that could be achieved was to provide an opportunity for Essex based creatives to show their films to new audiences. However, one of the major difficulties facing short film makers was the cost of obtaining a BBFC classification.

 

Members were told that, the film submitted by The Electric Palace, Harwich on behalf of the Harwich International Shanty Festival would be shown as part of the festival in October 2024.

 

The Sub-Committee was made aware that, the Harwich International Shanty Festival had been set up in 2006 to organise and co-ordinate an annual sea shanty festival over a weekend in October. Through concerts, sing-rounds, pub sessions, talks and workshops, the history and heritage of Harwich as part of the British seafaring nation was celebrated, promoted and perpetuated by local people and groups. That was unique for the county of Essex and was attracting audiences countrywide and beyond.

 

The Licensing Manager went on to state that, by assisting the cinema in providing the classification service at a cost neutral fee, the Council through its Premises/Personal Licences Sub-Committee was helping to promote and support the town, the District, the local tourist and leisure industries, and the work of local independent filmmakers.

 

In addition, The Electric Palace, Harwich was a special venue locally and provided for a diverse range of film and entertainment that was not always catered for by mainstream venues and which attracted and brought visitors into Harwich as a result. The theatre was therefore always an important destination and venue for Tendring’s tourist and leisure industry.

 

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS:-

APPLICANT’S ANSWERS:-

Is there anything you would like to speak to the Sub-Committee on?

I have seen the film as much as everyone else has seen it, so I am coming from a viewer’s perspective. I think it is a really nice film. It has historical interest, regional interest and I think it is exactly the kind of film that falls between the cracks within the licensing, which is why we have come to you today to ask to be able to screen it. I think partnering with Harwich International Shanty Festival and showing it at The Electric Palace, Harwich gives it the best chance of it being viewed and it will make us put a lot of hard work into putting it together, so we are really keen for it to reach an audience and that is why I am here today to ask you to grant licensing.

 

The Chairman (Councillor J Henderson) adjourned the meeting at this time whilst the Sub-Committee retired to deliberate. The Head of Legal Services (Linda Trembath), Litigation Lawyer (Sarah Opene) and the Committee Services Officer (Bethany Jones) retired with the Sub-Committee in case they were asked to assist Members in those deliberations.

 

Upon resuming the meeting, the Sub-Committee unanimously RESOLVED that the film should be classified as Universal (U) in accordance with BBFC guidelines.

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