Kazakhstan Sets New Rules for Film Review Before Release

New rules for the pre-screening review of films will come into force in Kazakhstan on April 21. They were approved by order of Culture Minister Aida Balayeva, Orda.kz reports.

The rules concern a special expert commission that will review films before they are released. It will include representatives of state bodies, as well as specialists ranging from lawyers and psychologists to cinema experts.

The commission will assess whether films contain prohibited content, including propaganda of violence, incitement to hatred, threats to state security, or other information that violates the law. It will also make recommendations on age ratings.

The commission will not assess:

• the artistic or aesthetic value of a film;
• its commercial potential;
• political or ideological preferences.

Based on the results of the review, experts will prepare a conclusion containing a description of the film, the results of the analysis, and recommendations. The meeting minutes must include:

• the title of the film;
• country of production;
• information about the copyright holder;
• a brief description of the film;
• the results of the review;
• the age category;
• the commission’s recommendations.

Members of the commission are required not to disclose the content of films or share the results of the review before an official decision is issued.

Original author: Elvira Ivannikova

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