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Ontario Film Review Board
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Search for a Film Classification Frequently Asked Questions General Information Search for a Film Classification Frequently asked questions Our Mission Who we are OFRB Quality Service Policy Our History How We Classify Classification Categories and Content Advisories Adult Sex Films Mainstream Film Labelling and the Canadian Home Video Rating System The American Classification System Video and Computer Games Public Awareness Program News, Publications and Forms Links to Other Sites Film Classification Act, 2005 and Regulation How does the Ontario Film Review Board develop its decision making guidelines?

Community standards are at the forefront whenever the Ontario Film Review Board revises its guidelines.  The Board uses many avenues to gauge the standards of the community it serves.

The OFRB is structured specifically to address issues relating to the community’s perceptions of appropriate viewing.  The public Board consists of ordinary people, from all over the province, which work part-time for the Board.  Members include men and women of all ages, with diverse work histories, different ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations.  The OFRB is structured this way so that its decisions will reflect Ontario's diverse communities.

The full Board usually meets two times a year to discuss any changes in policy, procedure or guidelines.  All changes are discussed, debated, and voted on by the full Board before any changes are made.  The OFRB hears from a wide variety of speakers including child psychologists, members of public interest groups concerned about areas such as media violence, representatives from the movie industry and so on.

The OFRB tests its perception of community standards in twice-monthly evening screenings where public groups view a movie with the official panel and compare their opinions about how the movie should be classified against the official panel's decision.

We also hear directly from the media, from public interest groups, and from members of the general public via letter, telephone, fax, e-mail and this web site.

Our responsibility is to understand and reflect the thinking of the diverse composition of the Ontario public.

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Ontario Film Review Board, 1075 Millwood Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 1X6
Phone: (416) 314-3626   Fax: (416) 314-3632   Toll-free: 1-800-268-6024

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Last Modified:  2009-06-26

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