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Viewer Advice and Classification

Viewer Advice

MIFF offers Viewer Advice for films that contain scenes and/or themes that some audiences may find sensitive. Where applicable, Viewer Advice will be prominently displayed on each film’s listing on the MIFF website and app. Please refer to the Viewer Advice prior to booking your tickets.
 

Regular Classifications

The Classification Board generally classifies all films screened in a cinema for a public audience. This is the process that gives films the classification rating that most people are familiar with:

  • G : General Viewing
    No legal restrictions.
  • PG: Parental Guidance Recommended
    No legal restrictions, but parents are encouraged to assess the suitability of material for younger viewers.
  • M: Mature Audience Recommended
    Not recommended for viewers under 15 years old, but no legal restrictions apply.
  • MA 15+: Mature Audiences Only
    Not suitable for viewers under 15 years old. Viewers under 15 cannot legally watch unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
  • R 18+: Restricted to Adults
    Not suitable for viewers under 18 years old. Viewers under 18 cannot legally watch even if with a parent or adult guardian.

Festival Classification Exemptions

Due to the time taken to process a classification, the Classification Board recognises that it is not possible for a film festival such as MIFF to only screen films that have been officially classified. Therefore, special exemptions apply to festivals.

  • Unclassified 18+
    This is not the same as an R18+ rating, but it acts in a similar way: nobody under 18 (including infants) can legally view a film with this exemption, even with a parent or adult guardian. One of the key differences between R and Unclassified 18+ is that the content will not be as per an R movie – rather, the film has not yet been classified as suitable for anyone other than an adult audience.
  • Unclassified 15+
    This is not the same as an MA 15+ rating, but it acts in the same way: nobody under 15 can legally view the film unless they are with a parent or reasonable adult guardian.
  • Unclassified, All Ages
    These films can be viewed by, and are suitable for, audiences of all ages.