The document discusses the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) and their role in rating films for release in UK cinemas. The BBFC examines each film to determine its age rating based on content like themes, violence, and language. Films are rated U, PG, 12A, 15, or 18 based on increasing levels of mature content. The document provides examples of films like Attack the Block and Dawn of the Dead that received 15 and 18 ratings respectively due to strong language and graphic violence. It also notes that films aimed at children like Coraline can contain some scary moments despite a PG rating.

2. What is the BBFC
• Anyone wanting to release a film or DVD for the cinema in the UK
needs to make sure the film has a BBFC age rating. When a finally
has finished being produced and seen by the owner, he/she sends it
to the BBFC who will then rate the film to a suitable standard. The
Company then pay the BBFC to rate it, The average length of a film
will cost around £800. The BBFC must make sure there are no
glitches, it is good enough quality, also the examiners have to rate
the exact same film that people will see in the cinema. The BBFC
have a department who make sure each film is seen in good time. A
film is scheduled in a special diary which tells the examiners what
time the film will be shown and where. Two Examiners watch the
film. They must carefully note the title down. They then make a
note of all the issues in the film as they watch. When they finish,
they write a synopsis, discuss the age rating and write the BBFC in
sight for the film

3. Age Ratings
• A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However,
it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child, especially at
this lower end of the category range.
• PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general
viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A PG film
should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. Parents should
consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive
children.
• 12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can go and see the film
unaccompanied. The A stands for 'accompanied' and 'advisory'. Children
younger than 12 may see the film if they are accompanied by an adult (eg
someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them. The 12
certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays. 12A is for films at the cinema
only.
• No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a ‘15’
rated DVD. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of
age.
• Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at
the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for
children.
• 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 in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’
videos may not be supplied by mail order

4. Rate it myself
With this film, I rated it a PG and identified
the following issues as themes and
violence/threat.
The CBBFC rated this a U and selected the
following issues as themes and
violence/threat.
I chose to rate this as a PG because I saw
violence/threat and thought it could possibly
be a bit disturbing for children of a younger
age.

5. Case Studies

6. Attack the Block
• Attack The Block is a British horror movie directed by comedian Joe Cornish. It is
set in a South London housing estate and follows a group of teen muggers, who
form an unlikely alliance with a nurse they have robbed, when aliens attack their
tower block. The film contains frequent strong language from the start, with over
50 uses of 'f**k' and some uses of 'motherf****r' throughout. Under current BBFC
guidelines, where only infrequent strong language is permitted at 12A, the work
was automatically therefore a 15 category within the first reel.

7. Dawn of the dead
American film director George A. Romero built his reputation on being the creator of
the modern horror zombie movie. His debut feature Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
redefined the genre, introducing new levels of graphic violence that were to influence
cinematic trends throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Dawn of the dead was rated an 18
by the BBFC due to graphic violence, strong language and horror.
2004 saw the release of Zack Snyder’s remake of Romero’s Dawn Of The Dead, which
proved to be an altogether more gruesome and graphic affair. However, the BBFC still
passed the film 18 uncut due to the same reasons a Romero’s

8. Coraline
• While adults might pay for a cinema ticket to endure strong, bloody, gory horror of
films such as Saw and Hostel, they aren’t the only audience for horror at the
cinema. Films aimed at children have their fair share of scary moments, and always
have. In the BBFC guidelines to the junior categories it notes that at PG there
might be some scary moments, and it is worth remembering the ‘rollercoaster’
effect of some famous PG level films like Jurassic Park or Lord Of The Rings: The
Fellowship of the Ring.