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Culture Night 2024 at IFCOOn Friday 20th September 2024, IFCO will open its doors once again for Culture Night. We are inviting the public into our office to learn about the world of film classification. Participants are invited to view and classify a short film with an official Film Classifier at the small cinema onsite in Dublin 7. A great deal of consideration goes into each classification decision made by the Office, and IFCO is delighted to have the opportunity to share this process. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the audience about the guidelines that underpin all these decisions. We will look at how we come to a decision, and why a particular age rating would be applied.
Booking is required. Tickets are available here:
Culture Night: Discover the World of Film Classification 5:30pm screening Culture Night: Discover the World of Film Classification 6:30pm screening Culture Night: Discover the World of Film Classification 7:30pm screening
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Press Release - Classification Guidelines 09th July 2024Click below for the full report: Press Release - Classification Guidelines 09th July 2024 Preasráiteas - Threoirlínte maidir le haicmiú scannán 9 Iúil 2024
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Draft IFCO Classification Guidelines July 2024Click below for the full report: Draft IFCO Classification Guidelines July 2024 Dréacht - Treoirlínte Aicmithe IFCO
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IFCO Infographic July 2024Click below for the full report:
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IFCO 2023 Annual ReportClick below for the full report: 2023 IFCO Tuarascáil Bhliantúil
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IFCO Protected Disclosures Act – External Reporting PolicyClick below for the full report: IFCO Protected Disclosures Act – External Reporting Policy IFCO An tAcht um Nochtadh Cosanta - Beartas tuairiscithe sheachtraigh a leagan amache
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IFCO Climate Action RoadmapClick below for the full report: Treochlár um Ghníomhú ar son na hAeráide
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IFCO Press Release 31st Jan 2024 - 2023-StatisticsClick below for the full report: IFCO Press Release 31st Jan 2024 - 2023-Statistics PREASRÁITEAS Dé Céadaoin 31ú Eanáir 2024
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IFCO Complaints Procedure 2024Click below for the full report: IFCO Complaints Procedure 2024 Nós Imeachta chun Gearáin a Dhéanamh
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IFCO Complaints Received Log 2023Click below for the full report: IFCO Complaints Received Log 2023
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IFCO 2023 StatisticsClick below for the full report:
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Preasráiteas Foilsíonn IFCO Ráiteas Straitéise nua 15/11/2023Click below for the full report: Preasráiteas Foilsíonn IFCO Ráiteas Straitéise nua 15/11/2023
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IFCO Press Release - 15/11/2023Click below for the full report: IFCO Press Release Strategy Statement 15/11/2023
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IFCO Strategy Statement 2023-2025Click below for the full report: IFCO Strategy Statement 2023-2025
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IFCO Press Release - 05/09/2023Click below for the full report: Irish Film Classification Office marks 100th anniversary with Culture Night classification workshops
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IFCO Press Release - 17/07/2023Click below for the full report: |
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IFCO Competition 2023Click below for the full details: |
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IFCO Press Release - 10/07/2023Click below for the full report: IFCO launches public consultation on draft Strategy Statement (English) |
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IFCO Draft Strategy Statement 2023-2025Click below for the full report: |
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2022 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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IFCO Film Classification National Research among Parents and Children 2021Click below for the full report: IFCO Film Classification National Research among Parents and Children 2021 |
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2021 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2020 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2019 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2018 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2017 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2016 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2015 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2014 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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BT Young Scientist ExhibitionAssistant Classifier David Power attended the Young Scientist Exhibition at the RDS where he met with Nicky Cooney and Anthony Ryan, Transition Year students from St. Joseph's College, Tipperary. Nicky and Anthony were exhibiting their project "Safe Watch", a device which utilises facial recognition technology to help prevent children from viewing unsuitable content in their homes. David Power: "Nicky and Anthony have done some really impressive work with "Safe Watch". There isn't a parent or guardian who doesn't worry about these issues so it is a great area to be working in. We look forward to monitoring their progress in the future." |
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Film Classification Survey - Parental Attitudes (Post-Primary), 2015IFCO is pleased to publish the second part of our consultation with parents/guardians on their awareness of (and opinions on) the word undertaken by this Office. This work was carried out amongst parents/guardians of post-primary students and complements Parental Attitudes 2013 which surveyed the attitudes of parents of primary schoolchildren. Overseen by Assistant Classifier David Power, the results of IFCO's Parental Attitudes Survey 2015 are available here. For further information, please contact info@ifco.gov.ie |
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Schools Focus GroupsAs part of IFCO's on-going commitment to establishing a more complete picture of changes in perception and emphases among our consumer base, a series of focus groups/presentations were made in Irish schools throughout 2014. Carried out by our team of Assistant Classifiers and designed by Classifiers David Power and Mark Brennan, these events focused on post-primary aged children and were invaluable in terms of receiving first-hand feedback from the children our classifications are designed to protect. The response from the schools that took part has been overwhelmingly positive and the feedback from the pupils will feed into the concluding part of our Attitudes survey to be published in the coming months.
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2013 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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Film Classification Survey - Parental Attitudes 2013As stated in the IFCO Annual Report 2012, following the updating of our classification guidelines, it was felt it was an opportune time to consult with consumers to gauge their awareness of, and opinions on, the work undertaken by this Office. Overseen by Assistant Classifiers David Power and Mark Brennan, the results of IFCO's Parental Attitudes Survey 2013 are available here. For further information please contact info@ifco.gov.ie |
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2012 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2011 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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2010 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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Office of the OmbudsmanIf you feel you have been unfairly treated; or you are not satisfied with our decision on your complaint; it is open to you to contact the Office of the Ombudsman. By law, the Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about everyday administrative activities as well as delays or inaction in dealings with us. The Office of the Ombudsman provides an impartial, independent and free complaints-handling service. Contact details are as follows: Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2. Tel: +353 1 6395674 Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie Website: www.ombudsman.gov.ie |
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Ombudsman for Children's OfficeIf you are a child or young person under 18 or an adult who knows a child who you feel has been unfairly treated, or you are not satisfied with our decision on your complaint; it is open to you to contact the Ombudsman for Children's Office. By law, the Ombudsman for Children's Office can investigate complaints about any of our administrative actions or procedures as well as delays or inaction in dealings with us. The Ombudsman for Children provides an impartial, independent and free complaints-handling service. Contact details are as follows: Ombudsman for Children's Office, 52-56 Great Strand St, Dublin 1. Free Phone: 1800 20 20 40 Email ococomplaint@oco.ie Website: www.oco.ie |
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IFCO Publishes New Classification Guidelines2nd August 2012 The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) has published an updated and extended version of its Classification Guidelines to its website. The newly published guidelines offer the public a greater insight into the work of the Office and cover both cinema and video (DVD, BluRay) releases. Ger Connolly, Acting Director of Film Classification - "The IFCO website is a resource for the public to research the suitability of cinema releases or video works for themselves and their families. These new guidelines offer parents/guardians a detailed breakdown of the differences in content between the age categories and will provide the public in general a clearer sense of how classification decisions are made". |
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2009 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report: |
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Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform Launches New IFCO Online DVD Consumer Advice Service for ParentsOn 21st July, 2009, the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, Dermot Ahern TD, visited IFCO's new offices in Smithfield, adjacent to the Light House Cinema, where he launched IFCO's new online DVD consumer advice service for parents. The new service provides parents and the public with the same kind of welcome consumer information and advice for DVD releases that IFCO already provides online for films. Minister Ahern said: "IFCO's new office environment, and its innovative Public Private Partnership with the Light House Cinema, perfectly reflects how the Irish Film Classification Office - 86 years in existence - has embraced change, openness and modernisation in recent years. "This new service puts parents in the driving seat, providing them with valuable information via www.ifco.ie on the age-related classification of every new DVD that is released on the Irish Market." IFCO Director, John Kelleher, added: "This new service also enables IFCO's commercial customers to transact their business online. It's an initiative that has made IFCO's service comparable or superior to similar organisations worldwide, and has been warmly welcomed by the industry". Click here for the press release. |
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2008 IFCO Annual Report PublishedClick below for the full report:
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July 2008: Name Change at IFCOWith effect from today, 20th July 2008, the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 has amended some sections of the 1923 Censorship of Films Act and the 1989 Video Recordings Act as follows:
Welcoming the changes and IFCO's modernised remit as an open and transparent agency, the Minister said: "The role of the Film Censor has evolved to reflect changed times. In a mature society, I think most of us believe that adults should be free (subject to the law) to decide for themselves what they may see, and the primary role for IFCO should be what we call age-related classification". The Director of Film Classification said: "Today, we don't censor, we classify. We don't decline to explain or justify our decisions. Rather, we welcome the fact that we can provide the public, and parents in particular, with age-related classification and consumer advice. We have gone from stop sign to sign post. This is a very special occasion for all of us here at Harcourt Terrace. For me, on both a professional and personal basis, it's a really special and symbolic day. Among those attending were the former Film Censor, Sheamus Smith, Dr. Kevin Rockett of TCD, author of "Irish Film Censorship", Ciaran Carty (longtime campaigner for liberalising censorship laws), Terry Molloy from Warner, Barbara Murphy from Sony Pictures, Trish Long from Disney, Siobhan Farrell from Eclipse Pictures, Niamh McCaul and Seamus O'Toole from Paramount, Arthur McGuiness from Dublin Film Distributors, Paul Ward from the Ward Anderson Group, Irish Times film critic, Michael Dwyer and Ted Sheehy of Screen International. |
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2007 IFCO Annual Report PublishedMRBI SURVEY FINDINGS PUBLISHED IN FILM CENSOR’S ANNUAL REPORTThe results of a national survey on attitudes to classification, carried out by MRBI for IFCO, (the Irish Film Censor’s Office), are included in the Film Censor’s Annual Report for 2007, which is published today (Thursday 29th May). The survey sample consisted of 1,000 persons aged 15+ representative of the national population in terms of gender, age, social class and region. Among the main findings of the survey, conducted via MRBI’s Phonebus,were:
In his Report to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern TD, the Film Censor, John Kelleher, noted that visitors to the IFCO website (which provides parents with user friendly consumer advice) had increased by 45% on the previous year. He pointed out, however, that this increase should be seen in the context of a disappointing response to another question in the MRBI survey, which showed that only 12% of respondents said they were aware of the IFCO website. Speaking today on publication of his report, Mr. Kelleher said: “Our research shows that those parents who do use our website - www.ifco.ie - appreciate the consumer advice it provides. It will therefore be our main priority now to significantly increase the level of public awareness, particularly among parents.” In 2007, almost 9,000 cinema films and DVDs were certified by IFCO. Click below for the full report: |
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Manhunt 2 Video Game ProhibitedA prohibition order has been made by IFCO in relation to the video game Manhunt 2. The Order was made on 18th June 2007 under Sec 7 (1) (b) of the Video Recordings Act 1989 which refers to ‘acts of gross violence or cruelty (including mutilation and torture)’. IFCO recognizes that in certain films, DVDs and video games, strong graphic violence may be a justifiable element within the overall context of the work. However, in the case of Manhunt 2, IFCO believes that there is no such context, and the level of gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence is unacceptable. |
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2006 IFCO Annual Report PublishedThe Film Censor, John Kelleher, has today (30th May 2007) published his Annual Report for the year 2006.
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2005 IFCO Annual Report PublishedThe Film Censor, John Kelleher, has published his Annual Report for the year 2005. Among the key developments the Report highlights are:
Click below for the full report: |
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Film Censor Announces Public Awareness Campaign For Film ClassificationsOn Tuesday November 15th, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael McDowell, launched the Film Censor’s cinema and media campaign to inform the public about IFCO’s current film certificates, classification guidelines and website which provides information and consumer advice for parents. The campaign, which is timed to coincide with the imminent nationwide release of several of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year, including Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, The Chronicles of Narnia, King Kong and The Producers, involves a number of initiatives: The Irish Film Censor’s Office, a statutory agency that has existed since 1923, is responsible for examining and certifying all films and video/DVDs distributed in Ireland. IFCO has experienced a radical modernising overhaul in recent years as it moves from its earlier ‘gatekeeper’ role to become an agency that classifies on an age-related basis, a consumer advice oriented organisation that aims to inform the public and parents, rather than to restrict information, and to encourage the intelligent enjoyment of film by the most avid cinema-going nation in Europe. Last year IFCO classified 610 cinema films (including trailers) and over 7,500 video/DVDs.
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Appeal Board Reverses Film Censor's 'Boy Eats Girl' DecisionAbbey Films, the distributor of the Irish film ‘Boy Eats Girl’ has succeeded in its appeal against a decision of the Film Censor. On 25th July, the Censorship of Films Appeal Board reversed the Film Censor’s decision to withhold a certificate to the Irish film ‘Boy Eats Girl’ unless a designated scene (depicting an ostensible suicide attempt) was cut. The Appeal Board’s decision was unanimous. ‘Boy Eats Girl’, produced by Element Films, will be released on the 23rd of September with a 15A certificate. |
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2004 IFCO Annual Report PublishedThe Film Censor, John Kelleher, has published his Annual Report for the year 2004. Among the key developments the Report highlights are:
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Film Censor Announces Changes to Cinema Film CertificatesChanges to Cinema Film Certificates Two changes to the existing film certificate categories are announced today (December 9th, 2004) by the Film Censor, John Kelleher, which will take effect from 1st January 2005.
These changes have been made following consultations with parents, educators, the public, film distributors and cinema managers. They also take account of findings of the nationwide survey of parents published last September, which was carried out for Irish Film Censor’s Office (IFCO) by Lansdowne Market Research. The results of a further national survey, this time of more than a thousand adolescents, will be published early in the New Year. Video classifications remain the same. The full cinema certification categories are now as follows:
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Film Censor Publishes Survey of Adolescents
1,045 adolescents, aged between twelve and seventeen, were surveyed at twelve schools randomly selected to provide a representative national sample. The survey was jointly carried out for IFCO by the School of Communications, DCU and the School of Business Studies and Humanities, IADT, Dun Laoghaire, under the supervision of Dr. Carol MacKeogh. This is the second stage of a major research project into attitudes to film classification commissioned by the Film Censor. The first stage, the first ever national survey of parents, was carried out for IFCO by Lansdowne Market Research and was published in September 2004. Click here for the survey results. |
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Findings of National Parents Survey PublishedThe results of the first ever national survey of parents on issues relating to their children’s viewing of films and video/DVDs were published on Friday 3rd September by IFCO and can shortly be seen on IFCO’s new website which was launched simultaneously. The primary aim of the survey, which was carried out for IFCO by Lansdowne Market Research, was to identify the main areas of interest to parents in relation to film and video content and classification. Lansdowne surveyed over 250 parents of children attending 12 post-primary schools, randomly selected to provide a representative sample in terms of area, socio-economic, gender and religious composition. Click here for the survey results. In October, the second phase of IFCO’s research project, undertaken jointly by DCU and the IADT in Dun Laoghaire, under the supervision of Dr. Carol MacKeogh, will report on adolescents’ perspective on film classification. |
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IFCO Website LaunchedIFCO’s new website went live on Friday 3rd September. Speaking at the launch, which was attended by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Film Censor, John Kelleher, said the website had a dual purpose. It would give the public an idea of what IFCO does as well as provide parents with relevant information about individual films and video/DVDs. “We strongly encourage and promote the exercise of parental responsibility”, Mr. Kelleher said, “and I am confident that the IFCO website will help to give parents the kind of information that will help to inform their decisions. |
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