THE FILMS ACT 1960

8&9 Eliz.2 c.57
An Act to consolidate the Cinematograph Films Acts 1938 to 1960

PART I: Provisions for securing the showing of British films

1.—Obligations of exhibitors to show British films. For a fixed number of days per year.
2.—Disregard of certain films for quota purposes. ie Everything but registered British quota films.
3.—Meaning as exhibition as first feature film, and computation of total showing time.
4.—Exemptions and reliefs. Exemption if net box office is not more than £150 a week.

PART II: Registration of films

8.—Prohibition of distribution or exhibition of unregistered films.

11.—The register of films. Detailed list shall be published in Board of Trade Journal [now Trade & Industry] as soon as possible.

17.—Determination of question whether film to be registered as British or foreign. 'British' films are made by the government, a Commonwealth government or Irish government; or if the maker of the film is British or Irish and the film is made in a Commonwealth or Irish studio and a specified proportion of labour costs goes to British, Commonwealth or Irish citizens. [Amended by South Africa Act 1962 and European Communities Act 1972]

19.—Films made in accordance with international agreements. [See SI list]

20.—Registration of British films as quota films. Films with labour costs of less than £50 per minute of playing time will not be registered.

21.—Defines computation of labour costs.

 PART III: Renters and exhibitors

24.—Prohibition of unlicensed distribution or exhibition of registered films.
25.—Renter's licences and exhibitor's licences.
28.—Prohibition of use of unregistered title and restriction on variation of length. Renter may not deliver to exhibitor film ±10 per cent of registered playing time.
29.—Prohibition of showing of films obtained from unlicensed renters.
30.—Record books to be kept by renters and exhibitors.
31.—Returns to be made by exhibitors.

 PART IV: Restrictions on blind booking and advance booking

 33.—Restriction on blind booking. No booking allowed before trade show nor enforcement by renter to make an exhibitor take a particular film.
34.—Restriction on advance booking.
37.—Penalty for contravention of Part IV. Fine not exceeding £250.

PART V: General and supplemental

38.—Films to which Act applies.
39.—Newsreels. May be accepted as British and quota films.
40.—Rentals of registered films. Must be separate for each film in the show.
41.—The Cinematograph Films Council. Established.
42.—Wages and conditions of employment of persons employed in film industry.
45.—Penalties for quota offences. Fine up to £250 on summary conviction, up to £500 on indictment.
50.—Interpretation.
        Short film = up to 33¹3 mins
        Long film = over 33¹3mins
51.—Repeal, amendment of enactments, transitional provisions and savings.
        (1) Cinematograph Films Acts of 1938, 1948 and 1960 repealed.
        (5) No effect on the definition of 'British' in Cinematograph Films Act 1957.

 Sch.1.—Constitution of Cinematograph Films Council.

SI
1961/1187    Films (Tanganyika) Order
1965/1856    Films Co-Production Agreement (France) Order
1967/1679    Films Co-Production Agreement (Italy) Order
1975/623      Films Co-Production Agreement (Federal Republic of Germany) Order
1975/1838    Films Co-Production Agreement (Government of Canada) Order
1977/1306    Films (Exemption from Quota) Order

SIs made under Films Act 1960 and Films Act 1970
1961/1824 Films (Exhibitors) Regulations
1961/1825 Films (Registration of Newsreels) Regulations
1961/1826 Films (Registration) Regulations
1961/1827 Films (Renters' Licences) Regulations
1964/1281 Films (Registration of Newsreels) (Amendment) Regulations
1970/985   Films (Exhibitors) (Amendment) Regulations

*made under European Communities Act 1972

  Repealed by Films Act 1985

 Cinema and film laws.
 Alphabetical list.

Page updated 28 April 2002