The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) says it is in dialogue with the producers of the film ‘A Very Dirty Christmas,’ requesting a modification of its title.
The development follows criticism from the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), which earlier condemned the title as “offensive
and a mockery” of the Christian faith.
The movie is produced by actress Ini Edo.
In a statement released on Thursday by Shaibu Husseini, the
NFVCB director, the board acknowledged the significant public reactions to the
film’s title.
It emphasised that core principles of religious sensitivity,
mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence are central to its regulatory mandate.
While clarifying that it has not yet received a formal
complaint from CAN, the NFVCB stated that it treats the concerns of the
Christian community and the wider public with utmost seriousness, particularly
within Nigeria’s deeply religious and diverse social landscape.
The board also provided context for the film’s initial
approval, explaining that it underwent the standard censorship and
classification process.
The statement revealed that the film censorship committee
assessed the work within its full narrative and thematic context, and the
approval of the title was not intended to trivialise the Christian faith or the
Christmas celebration, but was viewed as an element of fictional creative
expression.
The NFVCB acknowledged that public perception is a vital
component of effective regulation.
The statement said the board has formally contacted the
filmmaker to seek a change to the title. The step, according to Husseini, is
aimed at preventing interpretations that could be deemed offensive to Christian
sensibilities or that might provoke unnecessary religious tensions.
Reiterating its regulatory authority, the board referenced
Section 39(1) of the National Film and Video Censors Board Act. This provision
empowers the Film Censorship Committee to withdraw a film from exhibition for
further review if such action is considered necessary in the public interest.
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