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Film Censorship in the Asia-Pacific Region: Legal Frameworks and Filmmakers’ Perspectives

Coming Soon Film Censorship in the Asia-Pacific Region: Legal Frameworks and Filmmakers’ Perspectives

Film Censorship in the Asia-Pacific Region: Legal Frameworks and Filmmakers’ Perspectives

Author: Saw Tiong Guan
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9781032833866
Published In: July 2026
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Description
Contents

Details

This book is a comparative study of state-based censorship laws and practices in the Asia Pacific region.

It provides crucial historical context for each of the common law traditions in Malaysia, Australia and Hong Kong – all former British colonies – and compares it to the tradition of civil law and the lèse majesté law in Thailand. The book sets out to analyse the approach to film censorship of four Asian-Pacific countries. It does so largely from a doctrinal perspective, reviewing each country’s legal history and impact on the local film industry. Chapters detail censorship practices in each jurisdiction; key opinions and issues within individual states, and conclude with options for judicial review and insights relevant to the Malaysian film industry. The book also contains interviews with prominent film practitioners and censorship authorities. Their range of opinions contextualise the doctrinal research and demonstrate the effects of film censorship on artistic vibrancy and commercial viability of the film industries.

With its comparative approach to exploring how censorship and state regulation impacts local film industries, this book will interest scholars of film studies, Asian studies, and media law.

Table of Cases

Table of statutes and rules

List of films

List of Interviewees

Preface

1. Introduction

Setting the scene

Structure of the book

Legal literature about freedom of expression, obscenity and censorship

2. The Film Industries in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia and Thailand in Their Socio-Legal Context

Introduction

Malaysia