BBFC Film Classifications

These are a copy of the guilines the BBFC (British Board of Film Classifications) folow in order to protect vunerable and influential members of society, aswell as giving a guidline of what you can exspect from the particular classifcation of film. We are aim are film and trailer at 15 year olders and above, and will stick to this age classfications guidlines, however we are aware that in order not to restrict the dristribution, show times and places of our trailer we must make it as univerally suitable as possibe whilst attracting potential viewers.

 Universal – Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

• ·       Discrimination is clearly disapproved of and is not permitted
• ·       Drugs No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
• ·       The outcome of all scary/horror sequences should be reassuring, they should also be mild, brief, and mnot cause anxiety.
• ·       Realistic or easily accessible weapons and dangerous behaviour that young children may copy is not permitted.
• ·       Mild bad language is allowed if used infrequently.
• ·       Only natural nudity with no sexual content is permitted.
• ·       The only sexual content permitted are mild for example references to ‘making love’ and kissing.
• ·       The sensitive treatment of problematic themes may be present but must be appropriate for young children.
• ·       Violence although violence is not acceptable, occasional theat, menace and mild violence are allowed occasionally.

                 

Parental Guidance

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

• ·      Discrimination is clearly disapproved of and is not permitted, unless in an educational or historical context
• ·       Drugs No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
• ·       Fantasy settings may allow horror or frightening sequences, but these must not be intense or prolonged.
• ·       Realistic or easily accessible weapons and dangerous behaviour that young children may copy is not permitted.
• ·       Mild bad language is allowed only.
• ·       Only natural nudity with no sexual content is permitted.
• ·       Sex mild sexual references and innuendo are permitted and sexual activity must only be implied if discreet and infrequent.
• ·       If serious issues are raised within the themes they must be shown to be unacceptable.
• ·       If violence is justified in the context it may be allowed if moderate and not detailed.

Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12Discrimination is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned and cannot run throughout the work .

• ·       Any drug use must be infrequent and clearly not acceptable.
• ·       Horror or frightening sequences may be permitted but these must not be intense or prolonged.
• ·       Realistic or easily accessible weapons and dangerous behaviour must not be glamorised or dwell on in detail that could be copied.
• ·       Mild bad language is allowed stronger language such as ‘f**ck’ must be infrequent.
• ·       Only natural nudity but in a sexual content must be brief.
• ·       Sex mild sexual references and innuendo are permitted and sexual activity must only be implied if discreet and infrequent.
• ·       If serious issues are raised within the themes they must be shown to be unacceptable.
• ·       If violence is justified in the context it may be allowed if moderate and not detailed.
• ·       Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.
• ·       Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.
• ·       Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated.

Suitable only for 15 years and over

• ·       Discriminatory language and behaviour must not be endorsed.
• ·       No promotion or encouragement of drug use is allowed, however it may be shown, easily accessible substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• ·       Sadistic or sexualised horror is not permitted.
• ·       Filming should not dwell on or glamorise dangerous behaviour.  
• ·       Strong language for example ‘fuck’ may be used, however frequent uses of the strongest language ‘cunt’ may not be accepted.
• ·       Nudity in a non-sexual or educational context has no restraints, however nudity of a sexual nature may not be allowed in strong detail.
• ·       Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable. Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail as well as strong verbal references, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context.
• ·       Themes must be appropriate for 15 year olds.
• ·       Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images and strong sadistic or sexualised violence are unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence.

Suitable for adults

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema,  rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Except where:

• ·       material is in breach of the criminal law.
• ·       has been created through the commission of a criminal offence.
• ·       material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts,

-        or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals.

-        sexual or sexualised violence which might, eroticise or endorse sexual assault

• ·       where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context,  images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’. 
•       In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

Sex education at ‘18’- Explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted if the purpose is to inform and educate.

Sex works at ‘18’- Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. -Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

 

 

To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following content is not acceptable:

• material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be under the Obscene Publications Act 1959
• material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity
• the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
• the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
• penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
• any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.

These Guidelines will be applied to the same standard regardless of sexual orientation.

We have chosen to classify our film as fifteen, as we wanted it to appeal to a wide range of audiences, involving scenes that would make it an eighteen would be too restrictive. To keep within the constraints of a 15 classified film below you can see all the aspects we decided not to include.

• Discriminatory language and behaviour must not be endorsed.
• No promotion or encouragement of drug use is allowed, however it may be shown, easily accessible substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Sadistic or sexualised horror is not permitted.
• Nudity in a non-sexual or educational context has no restraints, however nudity of a sexual nature may not be allowed in strong detail.
• Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable. Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail as well as strong verbal references, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context.

Below are some of the aspects we included in our film.

• Strong language for example ‘fuck’ may be used, however frequent uses of the strongest language ‘cunt’ may not be accepted - We used some mild language in our trailer, however if this was to be publicly shown we would have to cut this out, in order for it's distribution and aired times not to be restricted. In the completed version of the film their would be the use of some mild language.
• Themes must be appropriate for 15 year olds - after showing are trailer and discussing it's plot with our target audience we came to the conclusion that all our films themes are appropriate.
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images and strong sadistic or sexualised violence are unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence. - Our film will show some violence and gory scenes however these are limited as we have focused on tension building. As we were targeting a fifteen classification we did not include many of these scenes, we also discussed that they would be hard to create to look realistic. Again, any violent of gory scenes are not shown in our trailer so it can be shown to all ages watching the television.
• Filming should not dwell on or glamorise dangerous behaviour. - Although we show reckless driving in our film and trailer we do not believe it to be glamorised.