The BBFC classifies films in the UK using age ratings to indicate what types of content are appropriate for different age groups. Films rated U are suitable for all ages, while 12A films can contain mature themes, soft drug use, strong language, moderate violence and sexual references as long as they are discreet and infrequent. The document discusses the author's film and determines it would receive a 12A rating due to its depiction of drug use, strong language, and mature themes, but lack of nudity or graphic violence.

2. The BBFC
The BBFC stands for The British Board of Film Classification, which is an independent,
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 rates films by giving them age ratings which splits different films into
different groups depending on what audiences they suit. For example a cartoon which
non graphic images, etc. would obviously be a U, which stands for Universal, meaning
anybody has the rights to view it. If you compare that film to a horror story featuring
a mass murder showing on screen violence and has bad language, it would obviously
have to be rated higher so that younger children cannot watch the film.

3. Universal
A Universal (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 BBFCinsight.
Universal films don’t feature discrimination, drug use, imitable behaviour, bad
language or sexual behaviour, with the slight exception of kissing, presuming it is
mild. Many films which are targeted to children ages four and over are given a U
rating as it is safe for them to watch – many films such as Chicken Little, Toy Story and
Monsters Inc are all given a U rating. These films purposely don’t include ‘harmful’
content as it would limit their target audience of children.

4. Parental Guidance
Parental Guidance/ PG is for 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. This doesn't’t have to
mean that the content may be too ‘scary’ but could infact just be that it feature drug
related storylines or sexual scenes.
PG is an upgrade from U as regards what are allowed on screen but is still limited as to
what they can show. For example, mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use
of mild bad language may result in a work being passed at a higher category. And there
may be nudity with no sexual context. Sex Sexual activity may be implied, but should be
discreet and infrequent. This among no drug references unless there is a suitable anti-drug
message. As well as many more limited things are the reason films are given a PG rating
rather than a 12a. Some films to be given a PG rating are Paddington, Harry Potter and
fondly enough; Parental Guidance.

5. 12 and 12a
The rating of 12 and 12a means that the film is suitable for an audience of 12 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 BBFCinsight for that film in advance. No one younger
than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work.
Films given this age rating can contain mature themes such as discrimination, soft drugs,
infrequent strong language use as well as moderate violence, sexual references and nudity.
12a films are of course allowed to be seen by 12 year olds who are accompanied by an
adult but are unlikely to be aimed for children who are under that age bracket.

6. 15
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. The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory
language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory
themes and language. Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not
promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse
of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is
unlikely to be acceptable. Dangerous behaviour should not be detailed as it could be
copied. There may be strong language, and there are no constraints on nudity in a non-
sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without
strong detail.
Some films which are given the age rating of 15 include: Suicide Squad, Saving Private
Ryan and Final Destination 5.

7. 18
18 films are only suitable for adults meaning 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 to society. This may cause harm to public health or morals. This may
include portrayals of sadistic or sexual violence which make this violence look appealing;
reinforce the suggestion that victims enjoy sexual violence; or which invite viewer
complicity in sexual violence or other harmful violent activities where there are more
explicit images of sexual activity in the context of a sex work or where the primary purpose
of the images in question is sexual arousal In the case of video works, which may be more
accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Some 18 films include The Centre of the World, Intimacy and Fifty Shades of Grey

8. What is Our Film Age Rating?
After questioning people (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pGDZx22vKg) we
found out a lot of people believed that the film would be a 15, however, I believe our
film to be a 12a due to the fact that these ‘films given this age rating can contain
mature themes such as discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language use as
well as moderate violence, sexual references and nudity.’ Our film features the use of
drugs as a girl gets spiked. It would also feature possible infrequent strong language
and obviously mature themes. However, there would be no nudity and only moderate
violence making the film be suitable for 12 year olds and older.