3. What is the BBFC?
BBFC- British Board of Film Classification
Examiners classify and rate films
4. What do they classify?
They classify:
Music Videos,
Video Games,
Videos Online,
Trailers and Films
5. What are the 7 ratings
symbols?
Universal- suitable for everyone
Parental Guidance
Cinema rating- 12 years and older
Video release- 12 and over
Suitable for viewers- 15 and over
Suitable for- adults
Restricted to licensed shops- contains pornographic footage
6. How do they classify films?
Two examiners watch a film for theatrical release. The
senior examiner will confirm the examiners’ opinion of rating.
But if the examiners are unsure or do not agree, the film
may be shown to other members of the Board including the
Director.
Issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous
behaviour,, language, nudity, sex, and violence when making
decisions.the tone of the context is also taken into
consideration
7. Are the 7 symbols classified the
same or differently?
Every 4-5 years, the BBFC carries out a public consultation to find out what the public
thinks about the age rating of films and if the BBFC’s standards meet the publics
standards.They adjust their standards and criteria to meet the publics views of the
appropriate age of rating.
The Guidelines say what is acceptable in each age category, from U to R18.There are two key
ideas laid out in the Guidelines are:
•to protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable
content
•to empower consumers, particularly parents and those with responsibility for children, to
make informed viewing decisions.
These guidelines are set in place for all categories meaning classification is fair for all films
awaiting release.
9. Film Rating
Certificate for adult
viewers
For viewers 18+
Individuals who are younger than 18 cannot see
the film in the cinema.
How are they
classified?
Examiners look at general and specific certificate guidelines
to consider which category the film should be placed.
These help protect individuals from harm and the social
attitudes towards media contents.
10. An Example
'The Human
Centipede'
Why is was not rated a
Why is was not rated a
15?
Drugs- using highly dangerous substances and drug misuse
Threat- frightening and intense scenes.
Language: English, Japanese & German- intense swearing in a negative context.
Violence- strong violent and gory scenes.
Sex & Nudity- strong sexual preferences, explicit images of nudity throughout the
film.
12. Juno
2008
12A
Films rated 12a means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film
unaccompanied. A is for 'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children younger
than 12 can see the film if they are accompanied by an adult over 18, who
has to watch the film with them.
13. 10 things learnt from the text
It was submitted to the BBFC with a PG request
The BBFC felt that the film’s treatment of an important theme was ‘suitable for
young teenagers’
The films use of swearing meant it couldn't be classed as pg but 12a allows for this
language infrequently
The DVD version was given a rating of 12
The sex reference are not educational and were felt to mitigate any offence
14. • It is seen as playful and tender in its treatment of a mature theme
• The clip from the wizard of gore is brief and comic, meaning it was in
the category to be classed as a 12a
• The trailer caused people to complain at its theatrical release because
it contained sexual references and was played before a children's show
• The sex references were considered to reflect what is likely to be
familiar to most adolescents
• The key classification issues are infrequent strong language, moderate
sex references and brief sight of a gory scene from an old horror movie
The Wizard Of Gore which was rated
