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Ontario Film Classification  Subject to certain exceptions, if a film or video is to be distributed or screened in Ontario, it must first be classified by the Ontario Film Review Board (OFRB). The OFRB also reviews and approves all motion-picture advertising, for example, ads in newspapers and posters.
To help viewers make informed choices about films and videos, the Ontario Film Review Board may issue short information pieces, such as "not recommended for children," "coarse language," "violence," which must appear in the film's advertisements.
Here are the ratings and what they mean:
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General (G) Suitable for all ages.
Guidelines
Language:Occasional use of words such as darn, damn, hell.
Violence: Restrained portrayals of limited violence that may result in extremely limited bloodletting.
Nudity:Casual, non-sexual nudity with no close-ups.
Sexual Activity: Limited embracing, kissing in a loving context.
Horror: Brief moments of mild horror in comedic, historic, or fantasy settings (for example, dragons, giants, wicked witches).
Psychological Impact:Sensitive to treatments of scenes or situations related to a child's sense of security and well-being.
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Parental Guidance (PG) Parental Guidance Advised.
Guidelines
Language: Limited use of stronger expletives and/or slurs and/or mild sexual references.
Violence: Restrained portrayals of non-graphic violence, integral to the plot. The portrayals are not prolonged; there are no close-ups; bloodletting and/or tissue damage is limited.
Nudity: Brief nudity in a non-sexual context, non-exploitative close-up.
Sexual Activity: Embracing, kissing in a loving context; mild sexual innuendo.
Horror: Exciting horror scenes and some grotesque images may be allowed in a fantasy or comedic context, but there will be no detailed and/or prolonged focus on gory images or suffering.
Psychological Impact: Sensitive to treatments of scenes and situations that may cause adverse psychological impact on children. May include frightening or emotionally upsetting situations involving threats, injury, illness, family problems, or death to young people, family member and animals (particularly pets). |
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14 Adult Accompaniment (14A) Persons younger than 14 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Guidelines
Language: Coarse language and/or slurs directed to specific segments of society; sexual references. Infrequent strong, aggressive language
Violence: Portrayals of violence resulting in some bloodletting and/or tissue damage, which may or may not be fatal. Violence should be within the context of the film.
Nudity: Full frontal nudity, non-detailed, brief, casual, non-close up, in a non-sexual situation.
Sexual Activity: Kissing, petting, fondling, implied sexual activity; sexual innuendo.
Horror: Occasional gory moments and some grotesque images, but these will not be detailed.
Psychological Impact: Occasional upsetting scenes that will tend to be more frightening, intense, disturbing - particularly to younger viewers. More mature themes can be portrayed. Threats with some abusive dialogue may be considered.
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| 18 Adult Accompaniment (18A) Persons younger than 18 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Guidelines
Language: Very intense & aggressive coarse language &/or slurs or sexual references, usually accompanied by violence directed toward the person(s). Frequent sexual references.
Violence: Frequent and/or prolonged portrayals of violence resulting in bloodletting and/or tissue damage. Limited instances of brief, visually explicit portrayals of violence.
Nudity: Limited instances of brief, full frontal nudity in a sexual situation.
Sexual Activity: Limited instances of brief simulated sexual activity.
Horror: Gory or grotesque imagery may be more frequent or detailed, but will generally avoid prolonged focus.
Psychological Impact: Frequent upsetting, disturbing or frightening scenes that may cause adverse psychological impact on some mature viewers. |
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Restricted (R) Restricted to persons 18 years of age or over.
Guidelines
Language: No restriction.
Violence: Visually explicit portrayals of violence, which may be characterized by extreme brutality, extreme bloodletting and extreme tissue damage. May include torture, horror, sexual violence.
Nudity: Full frontal nudity in a sexual situation.
Sexual Activity: Simulated sexual activity; limited instances of brief, non-violent explicit sexual activity.
Horror: Horrific themes, incidents and images will have a more prolonged or graphic focus and greater frequency.
Psychological Impact: Scenes and situations may cause extreme adverse psychological impact. Could involve intense and compelling terror, acts of degradation, threats of violence, and continuous acts of non-extreme violence. Such situations could be accompanied by coarse, abusive, and degrading dialogue. | For more information regarding film classification in Ontario contact: Ontario Film Review Board Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations 1075 Millwood Rd. Toronto, ON M4G 1X6 Tel: (416) 314-3626 or Toll free: 1-800-268-6024 in Ontario Fax: (416) 314-3632 E-mail: ofrb@cbs.gov.on.caWeb site: http://www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/english/default.htm
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