EMIN FILM GRANTED UNDER-18 LICENCE IN LONDON

British artist TRACEY EMIN's controversial movie about a teen suicide attempt has been granted a special under-18 licence by a London council.

Emin - who intended the film for a teenage audience - withdrew TOP SPOT from general cinema release in protest after the movie was refused a 15 certificate in the UK, which would have allowed anybody aged 15 and over to watch it.

Westminster Council has now granted the film a one-off licence, and it will be screened to an invited group of 16-year-old girls at the BIRD'S EYE VIEW FILM FESTIVAL next month (MAR05).

Festival director RACHEL MILLWARD says, "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show this hard-hitting account.

"Finally, this film will be seen by the audience it is intended for and hopefully the discussion afterwards will reveal what the intended audience actually think.

"Finally we will hear from the teenagers, rather than talk about them."