Festival films exempted from censor certification

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) Both Indian and foreign films entered in film festivals in the country will be exempted from censor certification, the government today said.

The government has taken a policy decision to support film festivals by according exemption from certification to certain categories of films, Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha.

However, the exemption is subject to a formal application to the Ministry and fulfillment of some prerequisites, he added.

The government had appointed a committee comprising academics, officials and representatives of the film industry was constituted to study the issue. The committee recommended that all films entered into various film festivals in India, including foreign and Indian films, would be considered for exemption from the process of certification under Section 9 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 provided they are confined to delegates and the festival is non-commercial in nature.

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