The document discusses film certification in the UK. The BBFC watches every film before release and assigns an age rating according to their guidelines. Generally two examiners view each film and a senior examiner confirms the rating. Films shown at home may receive stricter ratings than cinema releases. Examiners examine themes like discrimination, drugs, horror, violence, language, nudity and sex. The document then outlines the rating categories from U to 18, describing what content is acceptable within each rating. It concludes with an example of assigning a hypothetical film a 15 rating due to its horror and violence elements.

1. By Rachel Gibson

2. How Does Film Certification Work?
The BBFC watch every film before it is released and give it an
age rate and insight according with the standards and criteria
of the BBFC Classification Guidelines. The idea behind this is
to protect children from unsuitable film and video content and
to give consumers important information about a film before
they watch it.
Generally there are two examiners viewing a film and a Senior
Examiner confirming their recommendation. DVDs and Blurays are also monitored, though generally by one examiner.
Films that are not shown in a cinema may
have stricter age ratings than those that are as
these are more likely to be seen by underage
children at home.

3. What do the Examiners Examine?
 Discrimination
 Drugs
 Horror
 Dangerous, easily imitable behaviour
 Language
 Nudity
 Sex
 Violence

4. U – Suitable for All
 This symbol The U symbol represents the category of ‘Universal’.
Films with this rating are appropriate for audiences of the age 4+.
 Films with a U certificate can explore most themes as long as
they suitable for young children. However, not all U films are
aimed at children; adult films without strong issues are often of
this rating.
 This film rating includes most themes as long as they are related
to in the appropriate manner, suitable for a young audience
 Children’s films rated U will often include positive notions of
loyalty, honesty, friendship, etc. especially revolving around
children. There is almost always a ‘happily ever after’ and very
rarely any form of discriminatory language or behaviour, and
when there is, it is disapproved of strongly.

5. PG – Parental Guidance
 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.
 All themes are permitted in PG films, but they must be
presented as appropriate for their category; these films have been
known to include challenging issues such as domestic violence,
bereavement or racism.
 Illegal and antisocial behaviour is always condemned or disputed
in some way; smoking and drinking are disapproved of and if
children are presented smoking, this will be portrayed as ‘bad’,
and drugs come with the notion of harm.

6. 12A – Cinema Release Suitable for
12+ Years
 The rating ‘12A’ refers to films shown in cinemas only.
This means that anyone of the age 12 or over is able to
see the film unaccompanied.
 The ‘A’ stands for 'accompanied' and 'advisory'. This
means that children below the age of 12 are permitted
to see the film if accompanied by an adult, i.e.
someone above the age of 18 who watches
the film with them.

7. 12 – Video Release Suitable for 12+
Years
 This rating is only found on DVDs and Blu-rays. This
means that nobody under the age of 12 is permitted to
buy or rent the film. However, a parent or guardian
may purchase or rent a film with a 12 certificate and
then in the privacy of their home show it to their
children even under the age of 12.

8. 15 – Suitable for 15+ Years
 This certificate means that nobody under the age of 12 is
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allowed to see the film at the cinema, or buy or rent a ‘15’
rated DVD because works with these ratings are
inappropriate for anyone younger as they may include;
Strong violence
Frequent strong language
Portrayals of sexual activity
Strong verbal references to sex
Sexual nudity
Brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual
violence
Discriminatory language or behaviour
Drug taking

9. 18 – Suitable Only for
Adults
 Films with this rating are suitable only for adults; nobody under this age can
see these films in a cinema or buy or rent a DVD with this rating as their
content is not appropriate for anyone younger than 18.
 All themes are permitted on an ‘18’ film as long as they are legal, although some
themes in these films may still be offensive even to adult viewers.
 18 works may contain strong issues such as;
 Very strong violence
 Frequent strong language and very strong language
 Strong portrayals of sexual activity
 Scenes of sexual violence
 Strong horror
 Strong blood and gore
 Real sex (circumstances dependent)
 Discriminatory language and behaviour

10. What is My Film’s Certificate?
 I have decided that due to the fact that my film does
include elements of horror and strong violence, but not so
extreme that they would classify as worthy of an 18 rating, I
would give our film a 15 certificate.
 I decided this with the knowledge that the film
Obsessed, which my film took a
lot of inspiration from is also
certified as a ‘15’, and the second
film, Evilenko, was an ’18’ but
presented a lot more gore and
horror than my film and Obsessed do.

11. What is My Film’s Certificate?
 It is very important to emphasise the fact that
this certificate does not mean that our film is
meant for 15 year olds, as it is actually aimed at
a much older audience, but that if 15 year olds
wish, they can watch it as the content of the
film is suitable for their age.

12. By: Rachel Gibson