Baby-Friendly Screenings at East Dulwich Picturehouse – Too Restrictive?

[TheOG]

I was surprised to learn that East Dulwich Picturehouse now only screens PG-rated films for their baby-friendly showings, unlike other Picturehouse branches. Apparently, this change happened after a complaint to the council about showing films above a PG rating to infants. Afaik, this policy only applies to this  branch.

As a local parent, I find this frustrating. It limits our options, especially when many of us would love the chance to watch a wider range of films while caring for our little ones. For example, during Oscar Week, only one vintage film is being shown. Are we really expected to only consume toddler-focused content, like Cocomelon?

I also worry about the precedent this sets. If other institutions, like the Tate or the National Portrait Gallery, applied similar restrictions, parents could be left with only child-oriented content. Babies under one don’t fully comprehend adult themes, so shouldn’t there be more flexibility?

I’d love to hear what others think—should this policy be reconsidered?

Edited Tuesday at 16:53 by TheOG
Speeding occur

[crustwork222]

Wow, where does it say this? Is this why the Bridget Jones screening was cancelled? Agree it’s ridiculous, and a real shame for mums as baby cinema is a nice bit of normality in the first year. Can’t believe they changed their policy off of one complaint? 

[TheOG]

The staff in there told me about today, as I went in the ask what happened to the schedule. They don’t have anything official written up. 

please feel to email them inquiring about the issue and or complain. 

[email protected]

 

customerservice[at]picturehouses.co.uk

I for one was really looking forward to seeing some films in the coming months. 

Edited Tuesday at 22:06 by TheOG

[Sue]

20 minutes ago, TheOG said:

The staff in there told me about today. They don’t anything official written up. 

please feel to email them inquiring about the issue and or complain. 

[email protected]

I for one was really looking forward to seeing some films in the coming months. 

That seems really odd.

Was it really after just one complaint to the council? Do the council have a say in the cinema's policies?

You would think that if the Picture House agreed that this change in policy was reasonable, they would apply it to all their cinemas.

What is the upper age of the children at the baby friendly showings, or is one not specified?

I'm not sure how I feel about the actual policy, I'm just surprised about why and how it has apparently been so suddenly implemented.

Edited Tuesday at 22:08 by Sue

[TheOG]

2 minutes ago, Sue said:

That seems really odd.

Was it really after just one complaint to the council? Do the council have a say in the cinema's policies?

I agree it is odd. This is why I have contacted the cinema’s management via email. 

 

3 minutes ago, Sue said:

how it has apparently been so suddenly implemented.

Right now, they are implementing it by not showing films with a maturity rating of greater than PG. 

[Sue]

17 hours ago, TheOG said:

Right now, they are implementing it by not showing films with a maturity rating of greater than PG. 

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

It was more the suddenness I was questioning, rather than how they were actually putting it into practice!

[Nigello]

Sounds like over-cautious, fearful and patronising jobsworthiness on the part of the management. Makes one weep. 

Edited 21 hours ago by Nigello

[Sue]

6 minutes ago, Nigello said:

Sounds like over-cautious, fearful and patronising jobsworthiness on the part of the management. Makes one weep. 

It does sound like that on the face of it, but it may depend on the upper  age of the children who are going to the sessions?

Does the cinema actually specify anything re age?

I know you could say it's at the parents' discretion, but I'm not sure if showing an over 18 movie to kids old enough to understand what's going on (or possibly be frightened by it) would be legal?

Or if anyone at all under 18 is legally not allowed in?

I don't know how it works. Is it like pubs?

[snowy]

It's 12 months old maximum
 

ED Picturehouse is selling tickets for a 12A on their website today: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00015929/international-women-s-day-twiggy-short-film-the-long-walk/0000000008?cinema=009

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by snowy
Edited typo of mim to mum

[hfoster]

The BBFC age classification is slightly different for cinemas. You get parental discretion when buying something in a shop like a Blu-ray or video game, but cinemas cannot admit under 15s for 15 films, and 18s for 18 films. 

https://www.bbfc.co.uk/rating/15

[CPR Dave]

What kind of awful Mary Whitehouse worshipping sadsack would report this to the council ffs. 

If you don't want ypur child to be in the cinema when there is an 18 movie on, just don't go. 

There's no need to spoil everyone else's fun.

[Angelina]

seems perfectly sensible to restrict cert 18 but would have thought cert 15 are acceptable.

we don't know what the complaint was or if the measures taken by the cinema address it or go too far.

if there was a scenario when an infant was in a regular screening, then I would completely understand the complaint.

if the complaint was from someone who attended a parent screening, then - well, I guess it depends what was on!

if the complaint was from someone who has not involvement or experience then the cinema surely wouldn't have taken measures based  on it