York mother takes on 'bizarre' ban on 15 and 18 films at baby cinema clubs
A new mother has spoken about her bid to end a ban on showing 15 and 18 films at screenings for parents and their babies.
Amelia Redhead said she contacted City of York Council to ask about their policy on Baby Cinema Clubs after trying to watch Verity at Everyman with her eight-week-old baby Jude.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) parents should be able to choose what films they take their children to.
It comes as councillors are set to discuss proposals to allow venues which host Baby Cinema Clubs to show 15 and 18-rated films on a case-by-case basis.
Cinemas in York are currently only allowed to films rated U, PG or 12A by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
City Screen, Everyman, Vue and Cineworld all offer screenings to parents with infants in line with current council rules on film classifications.
Proposals for York follow similar changes made for clubs in Leeds and Chelmsford.
A council report stated the proposals would allow the controlled entry of infants under 12 months to 15 and 18-rated films with parents and carers but not the general admission of children.
Ms Redhead said she felt not showing films such as Verity, which is based on a novel about a ghostwriter, was heavy-handed.
The mother, from Holgate, said: “I’d been to the Baby Cinema Club before to see Spiderman and Sense and Sensibility, I went to go and see Verity but it wasn’t listed.
“When I asked why they said it was because it was a 15 and they had to stop showing them a while ago because someone complained.
“The manager suggested I contact the council so I emailed them and said it was ridiculous and unfair because cinema clubs in other places can show them and York can’t.
“My baby’s eight weeks old, he’d mostly just be sleeping.
“There’s a bus which stops outside my house that takes me into town so the Cinema Club’s are handy to get into town for a few hours, otherwise I’d just be sat in the house watching rubbish on TV.
“These changes would give the cinemas more opportunities to show a wider variety of films.
“If you don’t think your child should see a film or don’t think it’s appropriate you don’t have to go, it’s a choice.
“I probably wouldn’t go to the cinema regularly if it wasn’t for the clubs, but it’s something to do indoors with it getting colder.
“Spiderman had lots of flashing lights violence and I could watch that with my newborn, it’s bizarre you can’t wait some films just because they’re rated 15 and 18.”
Leeds City Council consulted with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and child psychologist trauma specialists Beacon House before it changed its rules.
Beacon House stated the clubs reduced isolation for people during early parenthood and recommended assessing each film individually and taking practical measures to help anyone affected during a screening.
Council Public Health Director Peter Roderick said proposals set for a decision on Tuesday, October 20 were sensible in light of the findings.