BBFC- British Board of Film Classification

British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)

What is the BBFC? What are its key roles? When was it set up?

The British Board of Film Classification also known as British Board of Film Censors is an independent, funded by the film industry, non-governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/ DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.

• The BBFC regulates not just as a statutory designated authority but also because we serve a socially useful function. They give the public information that empowers them to make appropriate viewing decisions for themselves and those in their care.
• They provide media industries with the security and confidence of cost-effective, publicly trusted regulation and help to protect providers of moving image content from inadvertent breaches of UK law.
• They help to protect vulnerable viewers and society from the effects of viewing potentially harmful or unsuitable content while respecting adult freedom of choice.
• The BBFC will not classify material which it believes to be in breach of the criminal law.

President	Quentin Thomas
Director	David Cooke

How is the organisation funded?

The BBFC is a not for profit organisation, and its fees are adjusted only as required to cover its costs. In order to preserve its independence, the BBFC has never received subsidies from either the film industry or the government. Its income is derived solely from the fees it charges for its services, calculated by measuring the running time of films or DVDs submitted for classification. The tariff must be approved by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Who enforces the BBFC judgements?

The government enforce the BBFC as the authority for certifying video releases. The law requires the certificate to be displayed on the packaging and media labels of the video recording. They wanted to attempt applying a new test of ‘suitability for viewing in the home’. The reason why the name of this authority changed was due to classification playing a larger part in the BBFC rather than censorship.

The BBFC can also advise cuts for a less-restrictive rating in order to create a new classification for the film. This generally occurs in borderline cases where distributors have demanded a certificate and the BBFC has rated the work at a more-restrictive level; however, some cuts are compulsory, such as scenes that violate the Protection of Children Act or Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act. The final certificate then depends on the distributor’s decision on whether or not to make the suggested cuts. Some works are even rejected if the distributor refuses the cut.

What are the levels of certification in Britain?

The BBFC currently issues the following certificates. The category logos were introduced in December 2002, replacing the previous ones that had been in place since 1985.

(U) 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 off reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

PG Parental Guidance –General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. 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.

12A/12 – 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 unsuitable, 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 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility  for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ ratedvideo work.

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.

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.

R18 – 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 unlicensed sex shops.  ‘R18’ videoworks may not be supplied by mail order.

Focusing on the 15 and 18 Guidelines there are certain aspects that you need to look at in closer detail as we ourselves will be creating thriller opening that will have to be suited to one of these categories of classification meaning we need to have a background knowledge on them.

15 Guidelines

• Discrimination: The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
• Drugs: Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Horror: Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
• Imitable behaviour: Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
• Language: There may be frequent use of strong language (for example,‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Nudity: Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
• Sex: Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail.There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour,but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is-sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
• Theme: No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
• 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 or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violencebut any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

18 Guidelines

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. 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 the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any 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 sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, erotica or endorse sexual assault.
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ would normally be confined to that category.
• 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’ Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted. 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’. Sexworks 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’.

6. What do you think about film censorship generally? Is it necessary? Why?

I think that it is important having a film censorship personally as it allows you to see how each film is segmented and what it consists of which allows you for example if you are a parent to make a decision wether to show your child a certain film or not based on the certification and if it is suitable for their viewing. However, I think the executives underestimate what the audience may know already at some stages of certification as we have explored many 15 year olds that know about issues such as drugs, sex and other important issues and yet cannot see 18 rated films.

7. Look around the BBFC site at some recent judgements for thriller films. Pick out and discuss two that you find interesting.

Title: Route Irish

Certification: 15

Genre: Drama

Consumer Advice: Contains very strong language and scenes of torture. This work was passed with no cuts made, this means that no cuts have been made to the film as a whole, therefore it is a suitable example for possibly one of our inspirational ideas for our thrillers. This also suggest that the certification for the film didnt have to be changed which means that the ratings for the film were accurate.

Title: Husk

Certification: 18

Genre: Horror

Consumer Advice: Contains strong bloody violence and horror. This work was passed with no cuts made, this means that no cuts have been made to the film as a whole. This also suggest that the certification for the film didnt have to be changed which means that the ratings for the film were accurate.