Parents in Leeds will soon be able to take babies under 12 months old into screenings of some 15 and 18-rated films after councillors approved a change to local licensing rules.
The decision was made by Leeds City Council’s licensing committee, following concerns from parents who said they had been turned away from baby cinema club screenings because of film age ratings.
Under current British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) guidelines, babies can only attend screenings of films rated up to 12A. However, councils have the power under the Licensing Act to apply alternative classifications in certain circumstances.
The change means cinemas hosting baby cinema clubs will be able to screen selected 15 and 18-rated films, provided additional safeguards are in place. The issue gained attention after some parents reported being refused entry to screenings of the latest Bridget Jones film, which carried a 15 certificate.
Labour cllr Lisa Martin, who represents Roundhay, said baby cinema clubs provide an important opportunity for new parents to socialise and avoid isolation. She said: “When you first have a baby, your life turns upside down. It’s so important to get out and be amongst other parents.”
Before making the decision, the council sought expert advice from family therapy service Beacon House, which highlighted potential risks to infants from certain film content.
A report presented to the committee stated: “Babies do not need to understand a film to be unsettled and impacted by it. Sudden loud sounds, extreme acoustic events and distressed voices can trigger physical stress responses in infants even without comprehension.” The report also noted that babies may react to emotional responses from parents during distressing scenes.
Liberal Democrat cllr Ryk Downes, who represents Otley and Yeadon, said parental reactions could be just as significant as the content itself. He told the meeting: “The key issue here is the stress levels of the person that is there with them. You can’t really put that into a classification.”
To address concerns, Beacon House recommended that cinemas carry out risk assessments for films shown at baby cinema clubs, limit sound levels and provide parents with information about film content beforehand.
Cinemas including Hyde Park Picture House, Everyman and Showcase will be required to apply for minor variations to their licences before offering the screenings. Any complaints will be investigated by the council.
The licensing report said: “The purpose of the risk assessment is to inform the suitability of a film for baby cinema club screenings and the application of appropriate control measures.”
Councillors were also told that a similar approach is already in place in Chelmsford and has received support from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The new policy will be reviewed at Leeds City Council’s annual licensing meeting.
