The National Board of Review

“In 1925, hoping to clarify its philosophy, the National Board dropped the word “censorship” from its name, recast itself as the “National Board of Review of Motion Pictures,” and focused its efforts on the promotion of better films rather than the suppression of bad ones.”

This year marks the 100th birthday of the National Board of Review. This organization was first founded as an anti-censorship organization fighting a New York City mayor’s belief that film was an assault on community morals. Theatre owners and film distributors banned together and established a National Review committee to fight the mayors ruling. The function of this committee was to promote films as the new art form of the common man.

Thousands of films and DVD’s have the endorsement “Passed by the National Board of Review” in there titles worldwide. The National Board of Reviewed promotes films as wholesome entertainment. It provided best picture awards as a means of recognizing the best pictures of the day.

Today, it provides free educational seminars to the public in the New York City area as a means of staying connected to the community. It also provides a series of grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to over 30 film students per year so that they can purse their film careers. In addition they also provide money to the Children’s Aid Society in support of their efforts to help young children from disadvantage neighborhoods also become involved with the film industry.