Salt is a 2010 US spy thriller by Phillip Noyce. See IMDb

A re-edited version with an alternative ending was passed 15 uncut for:

• UK 2010 Sony video version

The BBFC explained their rating:

SALT is an action espionage thriller starring Angelina Jolie as CIA agent Evelyn Salt. She is forced to go on the run after being accused by a defector of being a Russian deep-cover sleeper agent.

This is an extended version of a film that was classified 12A in the cinema and 12 on DVD for moderate violence and one use of strong language. Additional material present here meant this version of the film was classified 15 for strong violence.

The BBFC's Guidelines at 12A'/'12 state that Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. SALT includes several fast-paced fight scenes featuring moderate violence, with crunchy kicks and blows. In most scenes little is seen in terms of blood or injury detail but there are a few sequences of strong violence, including a woman being repeatedly beaten and smashed into a desk as she fights a dirty agent and a woman pulling a chain around a man's neck to throttle him. The film also opens with a torture scene in which a plastic tube is forced into Salt's mouth and filled with water, with some brief emphasis on her struggle. These stronger scenes exceed the terms of the 12A'/'12 Guidelines and are more appropriately placed at 15 where Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

SALT also contains a single use of strong language that is neither aggressively delivered nor directed. This would have been permissible at 12A'/'12 where the Guidelines state that The use of strong language (for example, 'fuck') must be infrequent.

Previously the BBFC suggested the cuts for 12A for:

• UK 2010 cinema release.

This film was originally shown to the BBFC in an unfinished version. The BBFC advised the company that the film was likely to receive a 15 classification but that the requested 12A certificate could be achieved by making cuts in six sequences in order to reduce a scene of torture, four violent scenes and a scene of strangulation. When the finished version of the film was submitted, all six scenes had been reduced acceptably and the film was classified 12A.

The Slayer is a 1981 US horror by JS Cardone. See IMDb

Passed 18 uncut for:

• UK 2010 Cornerstone R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• UK 2001 Protected/Vipco R0 DVD

Previously the BBFC cut 14s for an 18 rating for:

• UK 1992 Vipco VHS

From IMDb:

• Edited to shorten a pitchfork murder

And before that, Vipco released the uncut VHS in June 1982. It appeared on the video nasties list in October 1983 but was dropped in April 1985

Review from UK Amazon: Minimal Gore

The Vipco DVD is grainy and washed out.

The film is quite good. two couples fly to a quiet island for a well-earned break, but Kay knows the horror that is waiting for them & sure enough they are killed off by this monster. Once the killings start & the storm comes, there's a good atmosphere .

Unfortunately, the gore is way too minimal - with a decent pitchforking scene being its only saviour.

Shogun Assassin is a 1980 Japanese/US action film by Robert Houston. See IMDb

The BBFC passed the 1999 Horror Video 18 uncut.

Previously, the 1992 Vipco was pre-cut along the lines of the cinema version. No further BBFC cuts were required

• The Vipco release is missing a short sequence early on just before the initial decapitation. In the US version, The Shogun lowers his head to reveal the baby wearing a circular mirror like a headlamp around his head (he is carrying the baby piggy-back), the mirror blinds his enemy allowing the Shogun to whack his head off.
• Also the scene on the boat with the eye gouging is there in both versions, but is a second or so shorter in the Vipco release.

And before that Vipco released the video in the early 80's and it got caught up in the video nasties panic. Copies were seized and the distributors were prosecuted. But the prosecution failed and the videos were returned. Shogun Assassin was never officially listed as a video nasty by the DPP.

Review from US Amazon: A great film

Shogun Assassin is a great film. Much "controversy" has arisen over the years regarding this film having been cobbled together from two other films in the Lone Wolf series. I think that what has been achieved is an extremely entertaining, fast-paced piece of action. By eliminating non-essential story lines and including a voice over narration, the action moves at break neck speed.

The amount of blood spilled is so over the top as to be cartoonish, which only adds to the uniqueness of the movie.

If you have never seen Shogun Assassin or have seen it a thousand times, buy this DVD, it is well worth it.

The Bay of Blood is a 1971 Italian horror by Mario Bava. See IMDb

The BBFC waived their cuts for an 18 rating for:

• UK 2010 Arrow DVD/Blu-ray

Previously the BBFC imposed 7 cuts totalling 43s for:

• UK 2000 Film 2000 R2 DVD
• UK 1994 Redemption VHS

1. The first murder of a teenage girl loses 2s in 2 cuts, the first of her throat being cut from behind and the other of a graphic hatchet blow to the head.
2. 21s (nearly the entire scene) is cut from a boy dying with a machete embedded in his face.
3. 3 cuts totally 9s diminish the death of couple impaled with a spear whilst making love. We love the blood welling from the wounds and their writhing whilst impaled.
4. 11s has been cut from the death of Simon being forced up a wall by a spear impaled in his stomach.

And before that. the uncut version titled Blood Bath was released on the Hokushin label in February 1983 and was listed as a video nasty in March 1984. It stayed on the list throughout so became one of the collectable DPP39s.

Review from US Amazon: Granddaddy of all slasher movies

Bay of Blood is often called the "Granddaddy of all slasher movies". Many reviews have made the reference to Friday the 13th and very similar killing styles. After watching Bay of Blood you can definitely see where Friday the 13th (made in 1980) got a lot of it's ideas.

With that being said Bay of Blood does not possess the single element that defined the slasher film, the indestructible, omnipresent killer.

The movie succeeds almost entirely thanks to Mario Bavo, who serves as both director and cinematographer, with his typical stylish flare which heavily influenced the great Dario Argento, his eye appealing use of color and interesting editing techniques, which include a lot of blurry dissolves give Bay of Blood an almost dream-like, surrealistic feel.

All in all, worth an evening for the avid Italian horror fan.

A Serbian Film is a 2010 Serbia adult horror by Srdjan Spasojevic. The BBFC made 49 cuts totalling 3:48s for the 2010 DVD/Blu-ray release. The film was cancelled from a showing at Frightfest

In the past decade, pretty much anything goes down at the BBFC, aka the censors' office. Hostel. Saw. Irreversible. Antichrist. All released, as far as I can tell, uncut.

A refreshing change, finally, for audiences to be treated as adults. Time was, back in the days when professional killjoy James Ferman was in charge, that any remotely interesting movie was cut, banned or otherwise pilloried. Amazingly, as recently as 1996 David Cronenberg's Crash caused such a furore that made the front page of the Daily Mail, while The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (amongst many others) was still persona non grata in British cinemas.

Ancient times. Nowadays, Channel 4 and its spin-offs seems to be showing the early Saw films on constant rotation, and you can go and buy Martyrs in HMV. That's the result, largely, of a more relaxed and circumspect leadership at the BBFC. The vast majority of films are uncut, the current board rightly taking a hands-off view towards anything that doesn't contravene obscenity laws.

Trouble is, taking the stigma out of hardcore horror does tend to leave the genre's extreme wing looking rather toothless. Way back when, getting banned was something of a badge of honour for some directors, proving that their taboo-busting shock tactics worked. These days, Saw is a theme park ride. When the bar has been raised (or, depending on your point of view, lowered), what does it take to get the kind of reaction that once had the tabloids and politicians in apoplexy?

Looks like we've just found out. Srdjan Spasojevic's A Serbian Film has caused outrage and revulsion even amongst hardcore horror fans.

...Read the full article

A Serbian Film is a 2010 Serbia adult horror by Srdjan Spasojevic. The BBFC made 49 cuts totalling 3:48s for the 2010 DVD/Blu-ray release. The film was cancelled from a showing at Frightfest

Given the sheer, ruptured-sewage-pipe deluge of gore, mutilation and general unpleasantness that has come to comprise the peculiar sub-genre of horror known as torture porn, it seems hard to believe that it is barely half a decade old. But if we take its birthdate as the US cinematic release of Saw (and not, if we were being pedantic, the 1997 release date of the vastly-superior-in-every-way Canadian mathematical gore-thriller Cube, way too good a film to be credited with any kind of indirect responsibility for the existence of cretinous bilge like Hostel 2), then torture porn will turn six in October. God only knows what might be baked into that birthday cake.

But TP might not even make it that far, as we may be hearing its death knell very soon. Torture porn, at least in the UK, effectively dies at this weekend's Frightfest, or at least reaches a point when it can no longer out-disgust any of its antecedents. And when your sole raison-d'etre is to come up with new and inventive ways to permit living things to die horribly (Let's drown a man in liquidised pigs! Let's make a man's head explode in a specially rigged microwave oven! Let's throw a cat on to a hard floor covered entirely in acid! Yeah! Let's!), then you effectively buy the farm; your ability to inspire revulsion has been comprehensively overwhelmed.

...Read the full article

A Serbian Film is a 2010 Serbia adult horror by Srdjan Spasojevic. See IMDb

The BBFC made 49 cuts totalling 3:48s for the 2010 DVD/Blu-ray release.

The BBFC commented:

The BBFC has also required cuts to the DVD submission of A Serbian Film for an ‘18’ rating.  This Serbian language film with subtitles is about a former Serbian porn star, who is lured out of early retirement by an offer of money to participate in an ‘artistic’ porn film for the ‘foreign market’.  When he is forced to participate in abusive activities he tries to pull out but is drugged and is forced to continue with the filming.

The filmmakers have stated that A Serbian Film is intended as an allegory about Serbia itself.  The Board recognises that the images are intended to shock, but the sexual and sexualised violence goes beyond what is acceptable under current BBFC Guidelines at ‘18’.  The Board has therefore required 49 individual cuts to the work amounting to approximately three minutes 48 seconds. These include cuts to the juxtaposition of images of children with sexual and sexually violent material.  Although the Board does not regard these images as likely to contravene the Protection of Children Act 1978, the Guidelines state that intervention is most likely with, amongst other things, ‘portrayals of children in a sexualised or abusive context’.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

It is the Board’s policy that at the adult category the Guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment...However..there are cases where the Board will intervene, even at ‘18’, where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to pose a credible potential harm risk to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society, and in particular where portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence might eroticise or endorse sexual assault or where children are portrayed in a sexualised context.

The cuts to A Serbian Film do not detract from the message of the film but remove the most problematic images of sexual and sexualised violence.  The section in the Board’s Guidelines which lists the possible grounds for compulsory cuts also includes material which portrays children in a sexualised or abusive context.  Whilst the Board understands that these images are intended to make a political point, that does not remove the genuine harm risks to which they give rise.

Frightfest

Based on article from digitalspy.co.uk

Controversial horror movie A Serbian Film will not be screened at this year's Film4 FrightFest event.

FrightFest co-director Alan Jones said in a statement that the horror event organisers pulled the movie because they did not wish to show a version that had been heavily censored by 49 individual cuts.

Film4 FrightFest has decided not to show A Serbian Film in a heavily cut version because, as a festival with a global integrity, we think a film of this nature should be shown in its entirety as per the director's intention, Jones explained.

Several film festivals across the world have already done so. Unlike the I Spit on Your Grave remake, where we are showing the BBFC certified print, as requested by Westminster Council, the issues and time-line complexities surrounding A Serbian Film make it impossible for us to screen it

A Serbian Film is the second withdrawal from FrightFest following Gregg Araki's decision not to screen his apocalyptic teen horror Kaboom.

I Spit on Your Grave is a 2010 US revenge film by Steven R Monroe. See IMDb

The BBFC made 17 cuts totalling 43s for:

• UK 2010 cinema release.

The BBFC explained their cuts:

• Company was required to make a total of seventeen cuts during three separate scenes of sexual violence in order to remove potentially harmful material (in this case, shots of nudity that tend to eroticise sexual violence and shots of humiliation that tend to endorse sexual violence by encouraging viewer complicity in sexual humiliation and rape).

The BBFC added:

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE is a US remake of the 1978 film of the same name. It tells the story of a young woman, Jennifer Hills, who rents a secluded cabin in order to work on her novel. She is terrorised, assaulted and brutally gang raped by a group of five men, including the local Sheriff. She then takes revenge on each of her attackers. The film was classified 18 for very strong terrorisation, sexual violence and bloody violence.

Before awarding an 18 classification to I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, the BBFC required seventeen individual cuts to its scenes of sexual violence in order to remove elements that tend to eroticise sexual assault (for example, through the use of nudity), as well as other elements that tend to endorse sexual assault (for example, by encouraging viewer complicity by the use of camcorder footage, filmed by the rapists, during the various scenes of sexual assault). With these cuts made, the film's scenes of very strong terrorisation and sexual violence remain potentially shocking, distressing or offensive to some adult viewers, but are also likely to be found repugnant and to be aversive. They are not credibly likely to encourage imitation. There are three scenes in which Jennifer is terrorised, humiliated and sexually assaulted by the men. She is verbally and physically abused, being forced to drink alcohol, dance in her underwear and behave like an animal. She is also beaten and pushed around by the men. Jennifer is then raped by each of the men in turn, although only two rapes are shown onscreen. In the cut version, the rape scenes feature only incidental nudity and are played largely off facial reactions. Although the scenes of assault are protracted, the most likely response to the cut version of the scenes is revulsion and disgust rather than excitement or arousal.

Frightfest

The cut version of I Spit on your Grave will now be shown at Frightfest in central London as required by the local authority.

Avatar is a 2009 CGI laden action adventure by James Cameron. See IMDb

James Cameron has re-inserted the Na'vi lovemaking scene. Cameron explained that he removed the scene for the initial theatrical run after getting a negative reaction from test audiences: I always felt that it was a good moment, so I wanted to put it back in,

Cameron described the lovemaking scene between Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana noting that it lasts all of about 20 seconds. It's been restored, every last frame of it. Seriously. I would say, just so that we correctly manage people's expectations, it does not change our rating at all. I would call it more of an alien foreplay scene. It's not like they're ripping their clothes off and going at it.

This Extended Version/Special Edition was passed 12A uncut for the 2010 cinema release. It runs 8 or 9 minutes longer than the original cinema release.

The BBFC explained their 12A certificate (See article from bbfc.co.uk):

Avatar is an extended version of a science fiction action adventure film. The film tells the story of a human who attempts to persuade the indigenous population of an alien planet to relocate by controlling a genetically cloned avatar with the outward appearance of one of the natives. The original version was classified 12A for moderate violence and intense battle scenes. This extended version has also been classified 12A, for the same reasons.

The BBFC's Guidelines at 12A'/'12 state that Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. AVATAR contains a number of battle scenes in which characters are killed or injured. We see some moderate violence, including sight of arrows piercing bodies, fight scenes where characters are heavily kicked or punched, and a fight scene between a man wearing a large metal body armour suit and a fantastical creature. However, these scenes do not generally feature gory images or strong detail and do not emphasise injuries or blood. Blows and sight of impacts are generally impressionistic or occur offscreen.

With regard to the intense battle scenes, the PG guidelines note that Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor. The intense battle scenes towards the end of the film are both prolonged and intense and include scenes where the heroic characters are attacked or threatened. Although the context is clearly fantastical, the level of intensity may disturb a child aged around eight or older, meaning that the scenes are more appropriately placed at 12A.

Avatar also contains some moderate and mild language; occasional scenes showing an older character smoking, although the portrayal does not promote or glamorise smoking; a mild and oblique verbal drug reference and a very mild sex reference when a female character states that she and a male character are mated.

The Evil Dead is a 1982 US horror by Sam Raimi. See IMDb

US Anchor Bay has revealed a Blu-ray release of Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead, which released on August 31. The disk will include two new HD transfers (one in 1.85:1 and the other in the original 1.33:1).

Theres also a new audio commentary by Sam Raimi, producer Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell. Other extras are as per US DVD releases.

The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2010 Anchor Bay Blu-ray at US Amazon
• US 2002 Starz/Anchor Bay R1 DVD at US Amazon

In the UK, all BBFC cuts were waived for:

• UK 2006 Anchor Bay R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• UK 2002 Anchor Bay R2 DVD
• UK 2001 Anchor Bay R2 DVD
• UK 2001 Anchor Bay VHS

Previously the BBFC demanded 41 cuts adding up to 2:05s

Review from imdb: Raimi is already a legend

Raimi is already a legend, because he created 'The Evil Dead', without a doubt one of the greatest horror movies of all time. Made on a shoe string budget as a labour of love, it still remains Raimi's best movie. He has subsequently worked on bigger projects with bigger names but it is arguable whether he has ever surpassed the invention, thrills, energy and sheer fun of this. And why Bruce Campbell never became a genuine movie star after his debut here, and not just a much loved cult figure, is a complete mystery to me.

'The Evil Dead' is a modern horror classic and absolutely ESSENTIAL viewing for any self-respecting movie buff! It doesn't get much better than this!

Enter the Void is a 2009 France/Germany/Italy drama by Gaspar Noé. See IMDb

The BBFC passed the full version 18 uncut for a cinema release but this version was then cancelled.

Rather bizarrely the distributors resubmitted the film with reel 7 left out and also said that the film would be projected at 25 frames per second, shortening the running time by a further 5:43s.

This shorter version was passed 18 without cuts for the 2010 cinema release. The BBFC noted: Contains hard drug use and strong real sex.

The BBFC explained their 18 rating:

Enter the Void is a drama following the lives of a brother and sister living in contemporary Tokyo. The brother, Oscar, is a small-time drug dealer and his sister, Linda, works as an erotic dancer in a strip club. The film was classified 18 for frequent hard drug use and strong real sex.

The film contains frequent sight of hard drug use, including the use of cocaine, LSD, GHB and DMT. At 18, the BBFC's Guidelines state that cuts may be required to any detailed portrayal of [...] illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health. More generally, the Guidelines state that No work taken as a whole may promote the misuse of drugs and any detailed portrayal of drug misuse likely to promote or glamorise the activity may be cut. Although Enter the Void places some emphasis on the pleasures of recreational drug use, most notably through extended sequences filmed from the point of view of the hallucinating drug user, the dangers of drug misuse are made clear throughout the film, both in the dialogue and in the narrative itself. For example, one of the central characters is shot by police during a drugs raid and finds himself lying on the floor of a toilet cubicle, covered in his own blood. Such scenes serve to reduce any glamorisation of the lifestyle depicted. Additionally, although various methods of drug use are shown, such as taking pills, smoking drugs and snorting lines, none of the material shown presents information that is likely to be novel or instructional to an adult audience.

The film also contains several scenes of strong sexual activity and nudity, including sight of naked couples thrusting during sex, sight of implied fellatio and sight of erect penises. These scenes exceed the terms of the 15 Guidelines where Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail and are therefore more appropriately placed at 18. In addition there are infrequent scenes of strong real sex, including sight of vaginal penetration by dildo and by penis and sight of ejaculation. At 18, the Guidelines state that cuts are likely where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. The images in question are relatively brief and are not dwelt upon. Their purpose is not to arouse or titillate the audience; rather, their purpose is to illustrate the hedonistic and often seedy world inhabited by many of the film's characters.

In addition, Enter the Void contains frequent strong language and two uses of very strong language. It also contains scenes of strong violence, some strong gory images (including sight of head wounds in the aftermath of a car accident), strong verbal sex references and a scene depicting a pregnant woman undergoing an abortion procedure in a hospital or clinic. The latter scene in particular includes sight of surgical instruments being used on the woman and close sight of the dead foetus lying in a metal dish, which some viewers may find disturbing. The film also includes occasional suggestions of an incestuous relationship, including inappropriate kissing between siblings and sight of a brother sniffing his sister's discarded underwear. However, no incestuous sex is actually shown.

Enter the Void also includes a number of sequences of flashing and flickering lights that are likely to trigger a physical reaction in vulnerable viewers. It also contains extended sequences featuring rotating and handheld camerawork that may induce motion sickness in some viewers.

Meat Grinder is a 2009 Thai horror by Tiwa Moeithaisong

See article from thesun.co.uk

Prepare to hide behind your sofa - as the most graphic gore film ever is soon to be released.

The devilishly named Meat Grinder has a title that suggests human insides will soon be on the outsides. And now the BBFC have just given the Thai movie the green light to a completely uncut version.

Horror fans will be treated to plenty of blood splattering and cannibalism, with gruesome scenes including nails being hammered through fingernails and multiple dismemberment of limbs.

The film tells the story of a deranged woman who runs a noodle stall and starts hearing voices in her head. When she finds a dying man in her stall one night, she decides to chop him up and grind his body parts into meatballs as ingredients for her soup. When the dish proves popular and business begins to flourish, she must find a steady supply of fresh human meat to feed her customers.

Even the company distributing the film had doubts it could ever be released in the UK uncut. Tony Taglienti, Managing Director at 4 Digital Media said: We were expecting the BBFC to send us to the cutting room before being able to release it. We are pleased that this is not the case and applaud their decision to let the public have the chance to watch it as the filmmakers intended.

Comment: Quite Bloody

From DarkAngel on the Melon Farmers Forum

I've seen an advanced screener copy of Meat Grinder, and whilst it is indeed quite bloody in places, and features a few yucky ouch moments, its nothing that hasn't been seen before.

Hostel and some of the Saw films are notably gorier!

Demons is a 1985 Italian film by Lamberto Bava. See IMDb

BBFC cuts were waived when the  Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for:

• UK 2010 Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon for release on 27th September 2010
• UK 2006 Platinum R2 DVD via UK Amazon

The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2007 Ascot R1 DVD at US Amazon

Previously the DIVID 2000 released was cut by 42s when submitted in 2000 with the following justification: Cut required to sight of razor blade scraped along breast in medium close shot

• This is the scene where one of the "punk" characters scrapes cocaine off the bare breast of Nina (the punk girl) with a razor blade

Previously to that it was cut even more.

Review from UK Amazon: Classic garbage

Demons is cited on the commentary that accompanies this DVD as being one of the most important Italian horror films of the 80's, and indeed it is. Bypassing the flabby, overcooked acting, unevenly distributed action and horrendous scores of many a Euro-horror, Demons goes straight for the jugular, eyeballs, guts and groin. This film is certainly one of the best paced non-American horror flicks of the decade and contains a level of lovingly crafted, sickeningly visceral gore which just wouldn't happen these days.

For a European film the acting isn't actually too bad and the set is very effective. This film of course has bad points. Loads of them, but as is sometimes the case with these trashy horrors, the bad bits are so bad that they end up enhancing the enjoyment of the picture.

Classic garbage and even the involvement of the terminally abysmal Dario Argento couldn't ruin the fun of this film. Add to this toxic cocktail an interesting commentary with the director and a soundtrack featuring Billy Idol, Saxon and the immensely underrated 'Fast as a Shark' by Accept and you have a total winner. I love it.

Promotional material describes this worthy CD:

Listen to the Banned is a unique collection of contemporary songs by artists who have been censored, persecuted, taken to court, imprisoned and even tortured for no other reason than their music.

Compiled by singer and composer Deeyah for the international organisation Freemuse, its purpose is to raise awareness of the lack of free expression experienced by many musicians and composers around the world - a freedom that many of us take for granted in a democratic and mainly uncensored society.

Singer, composer and filmmaker, Deeyah is a versatile artist and a passionate human rights activist. Born to Pakistani immigrant parents, Deeyah has released three critically acclaimed albums and worked with renowned musicians such as her teacher Ustad Fatah Ali Khan, Jan Garbarek (ECM: Ragas & Sagas) and Andy Summers. Having endured constant intimidation and physicals threats throughout her career, Deeyah stopped performing and now devotes the majority of her time promoting human rights and freedom of expression through a range of self-initiated projects.

Freemuse is an international organisation dedicated to protecting musicians and composers' rights to freedom of expression.

Track Listings:

1. Mahsa Vahdat (Iran) - Mystery
2. Farhad Darya (Afghanistan) - Arooss-e-Aftaw
3. Lapiro De Mbanga (Cameroon) - Constitution Constipée
4. Marcel Khalife (Lebanon) - Oh My Father, I Am Yusif
5. Chiwoniso Maraire (Zimbabwe) - Rebel Woman
6. Tiken Jah Fakoly (Ivory Coast) - Quitte Le Pouvoir
7. Abazar Hamid (Sudan) - Salam Darfur
8. Kamilya Jubran (Israel/Palestine) - Al Shatte' Al Akhar
9. Kurash Sultan (Uigurien, China) - Atlan Dok
10. Ferhat Tunc (Turkey) - Alisero
11. Aziza Brahim (West Sahara) - Regreso
12. Haroon Bacha (Pakistan) - Speena Kontara
13. Fadal Dey (Ivory Coast) - Non Au Racisme
14. Amal Murkus (Israel/Palestine) - Bhallelak

Porno Manifesto will change your view on porn films

Numerous people still have a lot of reservations when it comes to watching porn films. They perceive them as something dirty and think that they are watched only by people who are perverse and immoral. That is why we recommend the book Porno Manifesto which was written by a French porn diva Ovidie several years ago. Let us look at what the book is actually about and why it might change your view on porn films and industry.

Ovidie, born in 1980 in France, a persistent feminist and a graduate in philosophy, is convinced that porn business is good for a woman's self-confidence and erotic films do not humiliate women. She is also convinced that every woman should make time to enjoy her sexual life if she wants to be a real woman. So at the beginning, Ovidie is convinced that watching and shooting porn films is a good thing. It is these films that raise self-confidence in women. Moreover, acting in such films turns a woman into a real woman. Of course, this is an exaggerated statement because a real woman does not need to prove her sexuality in that way, but Ovidie has her own mind and speaks from her experience. The reason she speaks in such a provocative way is that she is a porn star and she wants to enlighten women in her own unique way.

From promotional material:

Prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Nucleus Films releases the definitive guide to the Video Nasties phenomenon - one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film.

For the first time ever on DVD, TRAILERS to all 72 films that fell foul of the Director of Public Prosecutions are featured with specially filmed intros for each title in a lavish three-disc collector s edition box-set, alongside a brand new documentary - VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE.

Disc One presents the 39 titles which were successfully prosecuted in UK courts and deemed liable to deprave and corrupt.

Disc Two presents the 33 titles that were initially banned, but then subsequently acquitted and removed from the DPP's list.

Disc Three This era-defining documentary features interviews with filmmakers Ruggero Deodato ( Cannibal Holocaust ) Neil Marshall ( The Descent , Doomsday ), Christopher Smith ( Severance , Black Death ) and MP Graham Bright as well as rare archive footage featuring James Ferman (director of the BBFC 1975-1999) & Mary Whitehouse. Taking in the explosion of home video, the erosion of civil liberties, the introduction of draconian censorship measures, hysterical press campaigns and the birth of many careers born in blood and videotape, West s documentary also reflects on the influence this peculiar era still exerts on us today.

Extras include a gallery of original video company idents and extensive gallery of lurid cover art for every video nasty.

Possession is a 1981 French/W German horror by Andrzej Zulawski

Passed 18 uncut for:

• UK 2010 Second Sight R2 DVD at UK Amazon for release on 25th October 2010
• UK 1999 Visual VHS

Previously VTC released the film on VHS in September 1982. It was banned as a video nasty in September 1983.

In September 1984 it was cleared of obscenity in a jury trial and was removed from the list. VTC re-released the film with a toned down cover in December 1984.

Review from UK Amazon: Art Horror

Possession is totally extraordinary. Packed with symbolism it can be read on so many possible levels of interpretation it's bewildering.

Set in a European city (obviously Berlin during it's partition) in an alienating mixture of ultra modern buildings and decaying grandeur, visually it evokes a sense of dislocation.

Thematically, it seems to be a study of a marriage in the last phase of destruction, with Sam Neill returning from doing a msterious job (spying?) and meeting his wife played by Isabelle Adjani, whose agitated reaction to his arrival only hints at the deep levels of disturbance she enacts as the film progresses.

What follows is a nightmarish and surreal two hours of startling images, bizarre acting and frequent bloodletting.

If you liked Antichrist you will be interested to see a lot of similar themes in Possession - misogyny, madness, faith, evil and lust permeate a fractured dreamscape.

Possession is as challenging an art-horror as I've ever seen.

Joy is a 1983 Canada/France erotic drama by Sergio Bergonzelli. See IMDb

Severin have located a longer version which is uncut for the US 2010 Severin R1 DVD available at US Amazon  for release on 27th July 2010.

In the UK, the BBFC cut 39s from the 1984 cinema release. The same cut version was released for the 1993-94 VHS versions.

From promotional material from severin-films.com:

Her name was Joy Laurey, the pseudonym of the French-American supermodel whose 1981 autobiography became the most scandalous erotic memoir of the decade.

Two years later, executive producer Benjamin Simon brought Joy's saga to the screen. Succulent Canadian starlet Claudia Udy leaves nothing to the imagination as the globetrotting celebrity whose passion for men, women and strangers – in any combination – shatters every sexual taboo.

Joy has been now completely restored from a print discovered in the screening room of a Paris brothel and is presented uncut and uncensored – including the complete Secret Orgy Dungeon sequence – for the first time ever in America.

Foxy Brown is a 1974 US action film by Jack Hill. See IMDb

The BBFC waived their cuts for:

• UK 2003 MGM R2 DVD at UK Amazon
• UK 1998 Cinram/Orion VHS

Previously the BBFC cut 2:48s from the 1987 Guild VHS. From cuts details on IMDb:

• footage removed from the rape scene
• cuts to shots of drug taking
• cut shot of a woman's bloodied throat.

Review from UK Amazon: Blaxploitation classic

Foxy Brown just blew me away. Though the script is flawed, and has some unrealistic characters, this only adds to the fun, campy nature of the film. The opening sequence rivals those of the James Bond films.

Foxy Brown features a brilliant lead performance from the hypnotically attractive Pam Grier, whose federal agent boyfriend is gunned down, and who sets out to fight for revenge and justice where the System has failed her and at the same time is matched at every turn by Antonio Huggy Bear Fargas as her no-good younger brother. The rest of the performances are variable, and the budgets of these things did tend to preclude brilliant method actors! Jack Hill's direction keeps things ticking over nicely and the screenplay swings wildly between shock-horror tactics, tongue-in-cheek theatricality and even the occasional stab at gut-level farce.

Foxy Brown is a definite must-see. The camera is certainly in love with her. Definitely one of the best, and most enjoyable blaxploitation films I've seen thus far.

I Spit on Your Grave is a 1981 US revenge film by Meir Zarchi. See IMDb

The BBFC required 2:54s of cuts for a new 2010 DVD/Blu-ray from 101 Films. This is set for release on 20th September 2010.

The BBFC commented on their latest cuts:

• Company was required to make cuts to scenes of sexual violence in order to remove potentially harmful material.

Previous versions were all cut by 7:02s albeit achieved with a different mix of completely cut footage and reframing with the offending action being lost off screen.

All the cuts are to the rape scene. The ensuing revenge carnage is left unscathed

US releases are uncut for MPAA Unrated versions.

Review from US Amazon: Brutality

Over the years my memory had embellished the film; nonetheless, it still shocked me, today.

It is easy to forget that there are actors following a script. The film is evenly paced and unrelenting. One is forced to confront the brutality of rape and violence.

The actress is quite convincing and deserves recognition. The rape scenes are borderline snuff quality except for the fact the editing and directing have moments of brilliance. The men are sickening and easily hated; they are just vicious animals without any redeeming qualities, yet they are believable. Let us not forget, there are men who commit these atrocities. One can appreciate why she seeks revenge.

Without question, the rape scenes are some of the most disturbing moments in cinematic history. The castration scene is unparalleled. The special effects are just that, effective.

The DVD is an excellent package. I Spit on Your Grave isn't presented as a low budget film. It is art; it's not a slasher flick; it's not meant for entertainment.

Nice 'n' Naughty has been recognised once again as the Best Retail Chain for adult products in the U.K.

The award was presented at this year's ETO Show at the NEC in Birmingham and is the highest accolade in the UK for companies operating in the adult industry. Nice 'n' Naughty has now won this coveted award for an amazing fifth time in six years.

As the current holder of the E-line European Retailer of the Year award presented in Berlin last October, Nice 'n' Naughty has also repeated its previously unique feat of being champions of the U.K. and Europe at the same time. No other retailer has achieved this degree of success and Nice 'n' Naughty has now accomplished it twice.

The award was collected by Nice 'n' Naughty director, Trish Murray, who commented, It's a great honour for us to receive the Best Retail Chain Award from ETO because the winner is decided by the toughest judges of all -our peers and colleagues in the industry. I'd like to thank all who have supported us once again and I also want to pay tribute to the people who won us this award - the team at Nice 'n' Naughty. This is due recognition of their professionalism and hard work, so a big thank you goes to them as well. The challenge for us now is to keep on improving so we stay in contention next year!

Nice n Naughty operate 15 stores in the U.K. in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bolton, Brighton, Bristol, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool (2), Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Southport, Warrington, Wednesbury, Wigan.

The Wicked Pictures' spectacular film presentation, Fallen, has won the Best R18 DVD Award at this year's ETO Show held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Starring Jessica Drake and Brad Armstrong, Fallen is a four disc extravaganza, superbly packaged and rich in extras. An erotic masterpiece comes to life as the movie tells the tale of a fallen Angel (Jessica Drake) who has been banished to Earth and stripped of her wings after the accidental death of the young woman she was sent to watch over.

Alone and desperate for companionship, she finds it in the city's seedy underworld, far from the idyllic heavens she once knew. On her dark journey through sinful and perverse places, she discovers a glimmer of light in Keith (Brad Armstrong), a handsome mortal.

The question is.... can Angel regain her wings or has she fallen for the last time, doomed to live out her days trapped in the purgatory she now calls home? Fallen is distributed exclusively in the U.K. by Nice 'n' Naughty Wholesale and you can find out the answer to Angel's predicament at any of Nice 'n' Naughty's stores in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Bolton, Brighton, Bristol, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool (2), Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Southport, Warrington, Wednesbury, Wigan.

Nice 'n' Naughty director, Simon Prescott, commented, Fallen is an unforgettable film with mind-blowing sex scenes and a screenplay that delivers 'till the very last frame so I can understand why it's won this prestigious award. I'd very much like to express my gratitude to everyone who voted for it.