The National Film and Video Censors Board, (NFVCB) has released data of films classified by the Board between January and March 2024. According to data from the Department of Film Censorship and Classification, (FCC) and published on the Board’s website and Social Media handles, the Board verified and approved 274 films. This represents a decline of 2.1% compared to 280 films, which the apex film regulator classified during the first quarter of 2023.
A further perusal of the data shows that the Abuja Head office of the Board accounted for more than half of the movies verified and approved by the Board during the review period of the first quarter of 2024. The Onitsha and Lagos classification centres which verified and approved more films during the review period of the last quarter of 2023, placed second and third respectively in terms of number of movies verified and approved during the first quarter of 2024.
On films by genre, classification by viewing audience, films classified 18, meant for matured audience, formed the bulk of the films classified by the Board, contributing well over 50% of all the films verified and approved during the review period. Films classified as 15, 12, Parental Guidance, and General trailed behind accordingly.
However, Films in English Language according to the data, continued to impose itself as the film language of Nollywood. Out of the 274 films verified and approved during the review period, 250 films were in English Language, followed by Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Hindi languages.
The National Film and Video Censors Board is the statutory body responsible for the classification of films and video works and the registration of all films and video works as well as distribution and exhibition centres across the country.
Board encourages filmmakers and Content creators to submit their films and video works including musical videos to the Board for verification and classification.
Chika Iwueze
Head, Corporate Affairs.