Targeting abusers

"We will check the background of those who seek an operating licence," Film Review Office director Pradit Poseww vowed at a seminar yesterday.

He said the act would bar anyone who has been sen¬tenced to jail for sexual offences from operating such any such business.

"That's why we want the fingerprints of people who request operating licences," Pradit pointed out.

According to him, the 2009 National Film Act will be announced in the Royal Gazette next week, after which it will take immediate effect.

'Complicated' procedures

Soonthorn Auesurattanachai, who is authorised to seek a licence for his Imagine store in Nonthaburi, said he felt the new act prescribed rather complicated procedures.

"I really don't understand why my fingerprints are needed. Why should my background be checked this deeply?" he asked.

He said Imagine had sold only copyright items and there was no pornographic material involved. "I will, of course, abide by the laws but I feel the complicated process takes so much time," Soonthorn lamented.

Under the new act, cinemas are required to announce the ratings accorded to each film.

"We will abide by the rule," a representative from SF cinema said. "We believe the announcement will not affect the number of viewers at our cinemas."

The filmrating system has categorised films into seven groups. The first group is for films that should be promoted; the second for general audiences; the third for viewers aged 13 years or older; the fourth for viewers aged 15 or older; the fifth for viewers aged 18 or older; the sixth for viewers aged over 20, and the seventh for films banned in Thailand.