Film Viewers

Film Viewers

 

Background

The Film Content Information Act (the “Act”) has been proclaimed and will take effect on April 1, 2026. The Act’s accompanying regulations, The Film Content Information Regulations (the “Regulations”), have also been passed and will come into force on the same date. The new legislation will repeal The Film and Video Classification Act, 2016 and The Film and Video Classification Regulations, 2018 when it comes into effect.

For more information about film classifications in Saskatchewan, select one of the options below.

 

• Overview of Film Content Framework
• Adult Films
• Legislation

 

The Act establishes a modernized framework for informing Saskatchewan consumers about film content. It removes the requirement for films to receive an age based classification rating from a classification authority and replaces it with a system focused on providing relevant content information to consumers in Saskatchewan.

To ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed viewing choices, the Act requires exhibitors to disclose, before a film is shown, information that would be relevant to individuals intending to view the film. Examples of information that may be relevant to individuals intending to view  a film include the following:

• the age of the intended audience of the film;

• whether the film contains:

o nudity, sexual activity or adult themes;

o the graphic depiction of violence involving bloodletting, torture, mutilation or criminal activity;

o coarse language, sexual references or slurs; or

o the depiction of the use of an illegal substance, or the illegal or harmful use of alcohol, a tobacco product, a vapour product or cannabis;

• any other prescribed information.

Exhibitors are required to display this information at the location where the film is being shown. If the film is being advertised or otherwise promoted on a website, then the information must also be displayed on that website before the film is shown. 

The new Act also requires film exhibitors to display the name and contact information of someone who can be contacted respecting any questions or complaints regarding a film’s content information.

If a film has been previously classified for exhibition in Saskatchewan pursuant to The Film and Video Classification Act, 2016, then an exhibitor may display the film’s previous classification rather than the information about the film’s content, as described above. In these circumstances, in advance of the film being shown, the classification may be displayed:

• at the location where the film is being shown; and

• if a film is being advertised or otherwise promoted on the exhibitor’s  website, on that website before the film is shown. 

 

Adult Films

Adult films (films that have, as their main object, the depiction of explicit sexual activity and films that contain prescribed scenes) will continue to have age-based restrictions which prohibit the sale, rental, exhibition, handling, access and viewing of adult films to people who are under 18 years of age in Saskatchewan. Under the new framework, adult films must be reviewed and approved by an entity that is authorized to approve adult films.

 

Legislation

A copy of the Act and the Regulations can be viewed on the Government of Saskatchewan’s Publications website at: 

• Act: https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/123981

• Regulations: https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/128281