The BBFC was established in 1912 to set censorship standards for films shown in the UK. It assigns ratings from U to R18 based on the content of films. Between World Wars I and II, horror movies, gangster films, and depictions of sexuality caused concern. The BBFC regulates content related to drugs, language, violence, discrimination, and sexual material depending on the rating. It has taken action to ban some films deemed too graphic, like "The Evil Dead," and passed legislation like the Video Recordings Act of 1984 to strengthen film classification.

1. Shamare Campbell
BBFC
Background of BBFC
The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) was set up in 1912, which makes
it 103 years old ever since films were started. to be filmed in the UK. They were
set up by the film industry to set the censorship standards of films. They give
films certificates, which range from U to R18, which are;
 U – Suitable for everyone
 PG – Parental guidance
 12A – Cinema release suitable for 12 years and over
 12 – Video release suitable for 12 years and over
 15 – Suitable only for 15 years and over
 18 – Suitable for adults
 R18 – Adults works for licensed premises only
Between the World Wars the kind of material that caused concern include horror
movies, gangster films and also aspects of sexual scenes
U is universal which means that I has to be suitable for
people the under the age of four. It should raise no concern
with Drugs, discrimination, foul language, bad behaviour,
nudity, sex, threats or violence.
This means that the film is suitable for general viewing but
some scenes may not be unsuitable for young children. A PG
film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older.
Parents must consider whether the consent may upset
younger, or more sensitive children.
Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain
material that is not generally suitable for children under the
age of 12. No one younger than the age 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. Sexual scenes may
occur such as verbal sex references but comedy may lessen
the impact.
No one under the age of 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the
cinema or buy a 15 rated video. 12 rated works are not

2. Shamare Campbell
suitable for children under 15 years of age. 15 rated movies have Strong
violence, frequent strong language
Portrayals of sexual activity, strong verbal reference to sex, Sexual nudity, Brief
scenes of sexual violence or verbal reference to sexual violence, discriminatory
language or behaviour and drug taking.
Films rated 18 are for adults. No one under the age of 18 is
allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy and 18 rated
video. No 18 rated works are suitable for children. These will
contain; Very strong language, frequent strong language,
strong portrayals of sexual activity, scenes of sexual violence,
strong horror strong blood and gore, real sex and
discriminatory language and behaviour.
Legal Acts
Obscene Publications Act (1959)
An Act to amend the law relating to the publication of obscene matter; to provide
for the protection of literature; and to strengthen the law concerning
pornography.
Video RecordingsAct (1984)
The Video Recordings Act 1984 is an Act of the Parliament of the United
Kingdom that was passed in 1984. It states that commercial video recordings
offered for sale or for hire within the UK must carry a classification that has been
agreed upon by an authority designated by the Home Office.
Protection of Children’sAct 1999
An Act to require a list to be kept of persons considered unsuitable to work with
children; to extend the power to make regulations under section 218(6) of the
Education Reform Act 1988; to make further provision with respect to that list
and the list kept for the purposes of such regulations; to enable the protection
afforded to children to be afforded to persons suffering from mental impairment;
and for connected purposes.
Banningand censorship of films in the UK
The BBFC take action films that they think will cause uproar in the public, which
also things that make them feel like there is a moral panic. These are called video
nasties, which were a flag of concern as people can go to a rent movie to graphic
for the younger people. Movies that caused a flag of concern was ‘The Evil Dead’
which was one of the first video nasty’s as the violent content which one of the
worst scenes was where the zombie stabs a person in the ankle with a pencil.

3. Shamare Campbell
The BBFC thought that the scene was too graphic so that they made the Video
Recordings Act (1984)
The Descent
The reason why the Descent was an 18 but not a 15 was that they gave certain
graphic images such as Holly breaking her leg when you can actually see the
bone outside of the body. There is strong language, which is would be tolerated
in 15 rated movies. The BBFC classification for The Descent was that the trailers
were 12 and 15 but the movie was passed as an 18 rated, but being this the film
was passed uncut which mans that there was nothing to raise concern.
The BBFC rate movies if they are 15 on Strong violence, strong language, strong
verbal references to sex, Sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal
references to sexual violence, discrimination and drug taking but 18 is a
mediocre step up from 15.