The BBFC is an independent, non-governmental organization that classifies films, videos, DVDs, video games, and advertisements on behalf of local authorities in the UK. It was established in 1912 and is funded through fees charged to examiners. The BBFC examines works for content related to issues like violence, language, sex, drugs and criminality based on UK legislation and their own classification guidelines. Works are assigned age ratings and sometimes require cuts or can be rejected. In 2009, the BBFC classified over 10,000 videos and DVDs, 181 digital games, and 2,138 trailers and ads, rejecting just two works.

1. The Media Police
Ofcom: television, radio and
‘communications industries’
BBFC: film, DVD, video games
PCC : newspapers and
magazines
ASA: adverts/advertising industry
BBC Trust: BBC output

2. Behind the Scenes at the BBFC

3. • Who are they?
• What do they do?
• History
• Legal issues
• Accountability
• Examining
• Borderline works
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4. History
• Established 1912
• Independent, non-governmental body funded through
charged fees
• Classifies Films on behalf of Local Authorities – the
Licensing Act, 2003
• Classifies Videos, DVDs and some Digital Games under
the Video Recordings Act, 1984
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5. 1916
History
1. Indecorous, under-clothing’ and
ambiguous
T.P. O’Connor’s ‘Forty-Three Grounds for Deletion’
‘Unnecessary exhibition of
irreverent titlestoand subtitles
‘Drunken scenes carried excess’
‘Men and women in bed together’
2. Cruelty to animals scenes’
‘Indecorous dancing’ ‘'First Night'
‘Materialization of the conventional figure of Christ’
3. The irreverent treatment of
‘References to controversial politics’
sacred subjects morphia, cocaine, etc’
‘Scenes laid in disorderly houses’
‘The drug habit. e.g. opium,
4. Drunken scenes carried to
‘Scenes tending to disparage public characters and institutions’ 5

6. Legislation
The Licensing Act, 2003:
• Cinemas require a licence
• The BBFC classifies on behalf of Local Authorities
but they can:
– ignore BBFC certificates
– grant their own certificates
– effectively ‘ban’ Films
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7. The Video Recordings Act, 1984
• ‘Video Nasties’ and the VRA 1984
• Criminal Justice & Public Order Act, 1994
• The ‘Harm’ test
• Video Games
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8. Other Legislation…
• The Obscene Publications Act, 1959 & 1964 (obscenity law)
• Cinematograph Films (Animals Act), 1937 (animal cruelty)
• Protection of Children Act, 1978 (indecency/children)
• Human Rights Act, 1998 (freedom of expression)
• Racial + Religious Hatred Act 2006 (incitement to religious hatred)
• Criminal Justice + Immigration Act 2007 (extreme
pornography, pseudo-photographs of children, hate crime - sexuality)
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9. Accountability
• Guidelines: February
2005, updated 2009
• Public Consultation
– Citizens Juries
– Research
– Questionnaires
• Research Projects
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10. BBFC current classification symbols
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11. Examining: Issues
• Violence
• Language
• Sex
• Sexual References
• Sexual Violence
• Drugs
• Criminal Activity
• Weapons
• Imitable Techniques
• Horror
• Theme
• Legal Issues
• Discrimination (added 2009) 11

12. Other Considerations
• the work – its story, style, treatment
• the audience – address and appeal
• the moral framework
• artistic or educational merit
• potential level of offensiveness
• precedent
• possible harm
• context
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13. Other Outcomes
• Split Decision
• Confirmatory Viewing
• Cuts
- legal reasons
- policy
- ‘category cuts’
• Rejection
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14. Cuts: Examples
• Imitable Techniques:
violent, criminal, harmful
• Glamorisation of Offensive
Weapons
• Sexual Violence: eroticised
rape or sexual assault
• Illegal Material
• Instruction in Drug Use
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15. sbbfc: the Student Guide
• History, Legislation,
Classification
• Resources
Timelines
Case Studies
Research
Articles
Downloads
News
Reading List
Web Links
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16. Education
www.sbbfc.co.uk
Launched May 2005
www.cbbfc.co.uk
Launched June 2003
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17. The Examiners
• 30 Full-Time/Part-Time Examiners
• 8 Specialist Video Games Examiners
• Cantonese/South Asian Language Examiners
• 4 Senior Examiners
• Various Backgrounds
• Four Teams
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18. Examining
Examiner Duties
• Viewing
• Examiners’ Meeting
• Team Projects
• Networking
• Correspondence
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19. The Examining Process
• Viewing in pairs (with exceptions)
• Over 5.5 Hours per day
• Random
• Examiner’s Log
• Post viewing discussion linked to:
– Guidelines
– Policy
– Legal Restrictions
• Decision Agreed upon…
• Reports Filed
• Reports Checked
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20. Some Facts
• In 2009, the BBFC classified:
– 555 films
• 15 were cut
• 220 of these were passed 15
– 10,068 Videos & DVDs
• 4600 of these were passed U or PG
– 181 Digital Games
• 81 of these were passed 15 or 18
– 2138 Trailers and Ads
• 1000 of these were for cinema release
• In 2009, the BBFC rejected only TWO works
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