BBFC

BBFC stands for the British Board Of Film Classification which has had the
responsibility of rating and classifying films since 1912. The BBFC is an independent
and non governmental and non profit organisation. They have been classifying video
tapes and discs since 1985. They have also recently started online content. The
BBFC advises the entire UK to help choose age appropriate films, videos, discs and
websites. With over 100 years of experience, they regularly consult others on how
other people listen about what they think and feel about what's appropriate for
families and children of all ages.
In 1999, the BBFC engaged in an extensive consultation process to gauge public
opinion before the compilation of new guidelines for age ratings. In 2012, the BBFC
celebrated 100 years with a number of events.

Classification-
All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated
Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research
and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current
views on film, DVD and video game regulation.Classification is the process of giving
age ratings and content advice to films and other audiovisual content to help children
and families choose what’s right for them and avoid what’s not.
Recommendations are made by our Compliance Officers based on the BBFC’s
published Guidelines. These are the result of extensive consultation with people right
across the UK, research, and the BBFC’s more than 100 years of experience. They
reflect people’s views on film, DVD, Blu-ray, video on demand (VoD) regulation and
are regularly updated.
Classification is the process of giving age ratings and content advice to films and
other audiovisual content to help children and families choose what’s right for them
and avoid what’s not.

U Rating
A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over,
although it is impossible to predict what might upset any particular
child.
U films should be set within a positive framework and should offer
reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work
is particularly suitable for pre-school children, this will be indicated in the content
advice.
Dangerous behaviour- Potentially dangerous or anti-social behaviour which young
children may copy must be clearly disapproved of. No emphasis on realistic or easily
accessible weapons.
Discrimination- Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable
unless clearly disapproved of
Drugs- References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent and
innocuous, or have a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for
young children.
Language- Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
Nudity- Occasional nudity, with no sexual context.
Sex-Only very mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references to such
behaviour.
Threat and horror-Scary or potentially unsettling sequences should be mild, brief
and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be
reassuring.
Violence- Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it
is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic).

PG Rating
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young
children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight
or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but
parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset
younger, or more sensitive, children.

Dangerous behaviour- No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which

children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons
such as knives. No endorsement of anti-social behaviour.
Discrimination-Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the
work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be
acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs- Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give
detailed instruction.
Language- There may be moderate bad language. Strong language may be
permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language,
its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity-There may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.
Sex- Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex
references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be
acceptable.
Threat and horror- There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and
horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should
not be. Horror sequences should not be frequent or sustained.
Violence- There may be moderate violence but it 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.
 Cinema Release suitable for 12 years and over
Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain
material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.
No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless
accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12
to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for
that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they check
the content advice for that film in advance. No one younger than
12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work.

Dangerous behaviour- No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which

children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons
such as knives. No endorsement of anti-social behaviour.
Discrimination- Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the
work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be
acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs- Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give
detailed instruction.
Language- There may be moderate bad language. Strong language may be
permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language,
its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity- There may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.
Sex- Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex
references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be
acceptable.
Threat and horror- There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and
horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should
not be. Horror sequences should not be frequent or sustained.
Violence- There may be moderate violence but it 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.

Video release suitable for 12 years and over

Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain
material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.
No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless
accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under
12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable
for that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they
check the content advice for that film in advance. No one
younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work.
Dangerous behaviour- No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which
children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons
such as knives. No endorsement of anti-social behaviour.
Discrimination- Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the
work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be
acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs- Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give
detailed instruction.
Language- There may be moderate bad language. Strong language may be
permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language,
its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity- There may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.
Sex- Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex
references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be
acceptable.
Threat and horror- There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and
horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should
not be. Horror sequences should not be frequent or sustained.
Violence- There may be moderate violence but it 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.

15- Suitable only for 15 years and over

No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No one
younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video work.

Dangerous behaviour- Dangerous behaviour (for example, suicide,

self-harming and asphyxiation) should not dwell on detail which could
be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is
acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.
Discrimination- The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or
behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes
and language.
Drugs- Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or
encourage drug misuse (for example, through detailed instruction). The misuse of
easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or
solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Language- There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted,
depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its
frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity- There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sexual nudity may be permitted but strong detail is likely to be brief or presented in a
comic context.
Sex- Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may
be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour. Repeated very strong references,
particularly those using pornographic language, are unlikely to be acceptable. Works
whose primary purpose is sexual arousal are unacceptable.
Sexual Violence and sexual threat- There may be strong verbal references to
sexual violence but any depiction of the stronger forms of sexual violence, including
rape, must not be detailed or prolonged. A strong and sustained focus on sexual
threat is unacceptable.
Threat and horror- There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on
sadistic threat is unlikely to be acceptable.
Violence- 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
violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

18- Suitable only for adults

No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No one
younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video work. Adults
should be free to choose their own entertainment.

Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

● where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created
through the commission of a criminal offence
● where material or treatment appears to us to risk harm to individuals or,
through their behaviour, to society. For example, the detailed portrayal of
violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to
public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sadistic violence,
rape or other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour which make this
violence look appealing; reinforce the suggestion that victims enjoy rape or
other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour; or which invite viewer
complicity in rape, other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour or
other harmful violent activities
● where there are more explicit images of sexual activity in the context of a
sex work (see right) In the case of video works, which may be more
accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for
cinema films.

Classification:
The classification on my short film will be rated as a PG rating. I have decided this
for my short film as it follows the guidelines for a PG rating and just misses a U
rating. The reason this short film will be declared to be a PG Rating is because there
is a little violence which is a slap to the main character. This is also rated PG as to
some younger children it may be sensitive to some children and they don't want to
view it. I also chose this classification for my short film because it does not influence
children to do bad things, the only way it could influence children is if they were
negative on their future goals and believe that they couldn't achieve them. This is
also a reason why this film would be PG rated as adults could support the child if this
is a concern for the parents.