For Fifty Shades Of Grey, Public Screening Is Forbidden

… As Censors Board Okays 23 Films

THE National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) has approved a total of 23 movies for the months of December 2014 and January 2015. The Board has also withdrawn the film, Fifty Shades of Grey, from screening in the country. The film, which contains a lot of sleaze, had earlier started showing in some cinemas across the country. But the Board has asked that the movie be withdrawn from Nigerian cinemas. The Board in a statement cited public interest for the decision and asked cinemas across the country to stop screening the movie forthwith.

  However, of the movies approved for home viewership in December 2014, English Language productions topped the list with five films while Bini Language films were four followed by two Yoruba films and one Hausa Language film. Three of the combined NFVCB approvals were rated “15” while the rest got the “18” rating. English Language movies again garnered the lion share of 10 out of the 11 approved movies in January 2015 leaving one for Yoruba Language category. Three of the films were rated “15” while the rest had “18” classification.

  Among the approved English Language movies for the two months under review are: Here We Stand, The Invisible Bond, Twins Apart, My Brother, My Enemy, Adadioranma, The Baby Must Not Die and Second Burial. The Bini Language movies include: Ogue Nozutu and Odumamwen while the Yoruba Language movies include Ayo Igbala and Aye Keji. Bugu da Kari is the only Hausa Language movie.

  The Board said that all approved movies are to be released with appropriate consumer advisories regarding imitable technique, strong language, violence, drug abuse and fetish rituals. Also, the Patricia Bala-led Board has resolved to attend to submitted movies with utmost dispatch and the display of due diligence in its role as the industry gatekeeper.