xftyjhsfdghagj

2. Suitable
for all
Parental
Guidance
Cinema release
suitable for 12 years
and over
Video release
suitable for 12
years and over
Suitable for 15
years and older
Suitable only for
adults
Adults work for license premises only

3. The British Board of Film Censors was established in 1912 by the film industry
when local authorities started to impose their own, widely varying, censorship
standards on films. The BBFC was set up in order to bring a degree of
uniformity to those standards. The object was to create a body which could
make judgements that were acceptable nationally. To this end the BBFC has
needed to earn the trust of the local authorities, Parliament, the press and the
public. It must not only be independent, but be seen to be so, taking care, for
example, that the film industry does not influence its decisions, and that,
similarly, pressure groups and the media do not determine its standards.
Statutory powers on film remain with the local councils, which may overrule any
of the BBFC’s decisions on appeal, passing films we reject, banning films we
have passed, and even waiving cuts, instituting new ones, or altering
categories for films exhibited under their own licensing jurisdiction. However, by
the mid-1920s it had become general practice for local authorities to accept the
decisions of the BBFC.

4. Works should be allowed to reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment, and
adults should, as far as possible, be free to choose what they see, provided that it remains within the law and is
not potentially harmful. The BBFC works on several major principles in determining the age rating of a given
work:
Whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal
offence
Whether the material, either on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature, may cause any
harm at the age rating concerned. This includes not just any harm that may result from the behaviour of potential
viewers, but also any ‘moral harm’ that may be caused by, for example, desensitising a potential viewer to the
effects of violence, degrading a potential viewer’s sense of empathy, encouraging a dehumanised view of
others, suppressing pro-social attitudes, encouraging anti-social attitudes, reinforcing unhealthy fantasies, or
eroding a sense of moral responsibility. Especially with regard to children, harm may also include retarding social
and moral development, distorting a viewer’s sense of right and wrong, and limiting their capacity for compassion
Whether the availability of the material, at the age group concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad public
opinion. It is on this ground, for example, that the BBFC intervenes in respect of bad language
The context in which an issue (such as sex, language or violence) is presented is central to the question of its
acceptability. The work's target audience - who is likely to want to watch this film, and to whom does it 'speak' –
is also taken into account
The overall tone of a work may also affect the final decision. While the presentation of specific issues such as
sex and violence may not be problematic at a particular rating, if the work has a generally dark or unsettling tone
that may disturb the audience at that level, then it may receive a more restrictive rating. The impact of a work (ie,
how it makes the audience feel) is also taken into account, for example in relation to horror films where threat
may be more significant than violence.

5. The modern U, PG, 15 and 18 categories were
introduced in 1982. However it became apparent that
there was a need to cater for films which sat between
PG and 15. So in 1989 the BBFC introduced the 12
certificate and the first film to be given this rating was
Batman.
BBFC examiners found that the film had a much darker
tone than previous incarnations of the character and
considered the Joker as being potentially scary for
young children. The film’s tonal qualities with overtones
of horror precluded a PG. But examiners made the case
that a 15 classification would be too high and would
prevent younger teenagers, who would be a natural
audience for the film, from seeing it.

6. The modern U, PG, 15 and 18 categories were
introduced in 1982. However it became apparent that
there was a need to cater for films which sat between
PG and 15. So in 1989 the BBFC introduced the 12
certificate and the first film to be given this rating was
Batman.
BBFC examiners found that the film had a much darker
tone than previous incarnations of the character and
considered the Joker as being potentially scary for
young children. The film’s tonal qualities with overtones
of horror precluded a PG. But examiners made the case
that a 15 classification would be too high and would
prevent younger teenagers, who would be a natural
audience for the film, from seeing it.