Reconsideration of Film Rating

Film classification is not an exact science and more than one rating or advisory may apply to the same film. Because community standards are constantly shifting, a flexible classification system must allow for film distributors to request a reconsideration of a specific rating that may appear to be too high or too low.

Film distributors who believe that a rating assigned by Alberta Film Classification is unduly restrictive or inconsistent with ratings determined by other Canadian boards may request to have original classification decision reconsidered.

Reconsiderations are not automatically granted based on the application of different ratings by only one or two other English-speaking Canadian boards.

A reconsideration is automatically granted if 3 of the 4 other English-speaking jurisdictions have the same rating and if it differs from the Alberta rating.

If only two other English-speaking jurisdictions have the same rating and it differs from the Alberta rating, Arts Branch management may agree to a reconsideration based on the justification provided by the distributor. The Manager making this decision will not have been part of the original screening.

A film distributor is required to submit a completed Film Rating Reconsideration Form by email, fax, or regular mail. This form is here:

• Film Rating Reconsideration Form
  

  The Reconsideration Form contains interactive form fields and is best viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader 9, a free download from Adobe.

This decision on whether or not a reconsideration is warranted will be made by 4:30 p.m. on the business day following receipt of the written reconsideration request.

Alberta Film Classification does not charge a fee for convening a reconsideration panel. In consideration of this, the distributor must agree to comply with scheduling limitations or restrictions, and must also provide a print of the film by the agreed upon time on the designated viewing date.

Within three business days of the reconsideration screening, Alberta Film Classification will complete a Film Rating reconsideration Result Form and inform the distributor, in the format in which the reconsideration request was received, of the results of the reconsideration.

If the rating and/or advisory have changed, the results and new rating will be posted immediately at albertafilmratings.ca.

Distributors will be granted only one reconsideration screening.