The BBFC is an independent non-profit organization established in 1912 that classifies films, videos, and DVDs shown and released in the UK. It uses a ratings system (U, PG, 12A, 15, 18) to provide guidance to consumers about what age films are suitable for based on content like violence, language, sex, and drug use. The BBFC is funded through fees paid by film distributors and aims to classify works consistently while maintaining its independence from industry and government influence.

2. What do they do?
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Cinema
The British Board of Film Censors was set up in 1912 by the film industry as an independent body to bring a degree of
uniformity to the classification of film nationally. Statutory powers on film remain with the local councils, which may overrule any
of the BBFC’s decisions, 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.
Video
In 1984 Parliament passed the Video Recordings Act. This act stated that, subject to certain exemptions, video recordings
offered for sale or hire commercially in the UK must be classified by an authority designated by the Secretary of State. The
President and Vice Presidents of the BBFC were so designated, and charged with applying the new test of ‘suitability for
viewing in the home’. At this point the Board’s title was changed to the British Board of Film Classification to reflect the fact that
classification plays a far larger part in the BBFC’s work than censorship.
Finances
The BBFC is a not for profit organization, and its fees are adjusted only to cover its costs. In order to preserve its
independence, the BBFC never receives subsidies from either the film industry or the government. Its income is solely from the
fees it charges for its services, calculated by measuring the running time of films or DVDs submitted for classification. The
BBFC consults the Department of Culture, Media and Sport before making any changes to its

3. Five steps to rate films
Step 1 - When a film is finished and ready to be seen its owner (often called the distributor) sends it in to the BBFC with an
online form. The form gives us vital information including how long a work is, when it is due to be released in cinemas and
what rating the distributor would like. It is important for us to know what rating a distributor would like, even if we don’t agree
to give it in the end, as it tells us what age group they think the film is suitable for.
Step 2 - The company must pay us to rate the film. They pay an amount of money per minute, plus a small sum of money
for our costs. An average length film would cost about £800 or so to rate. Years ago films stored in reels were measured
with a ruler and the distributor was charged an amount per foot of film.
Step 3 - The film is checked to make sure it is finished and good enough quality for a team of Examiners to watch it. There
can’t be any glitches or technical problems and it must be completely finished. Examiners have to rate the exact same film
that people will see in the cinema.
Step 4 - Hundreds of films are sent to the BBFC for a rating each year. We have a department who make sure each film is
seen in good time. A film is scheduled in a special diary, which lets Examiners know what time the film will be shown, and
where.Usually we watch films in our own cinema beneath our offices in London but if there are too many films for us to
watch in one day we may go to another cinema to see it. If the film is IMAX, Examiners must travel to a larger IMAX screen.
Step 5 - Two Examiners watch the film. They must carefully note the title down (as this will be shown on the black card
certificate you see in cinemas so can’t have any spelling mistakes on it). 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 insight for the film. BBFC
insight is the information for you and your parents about what issues are in a film and why it got its rating.
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4. Age rating -
-The ‘U’ stands for universal (suitable for all).
-In a ‘U’ there can be curtain thing allowed (e.g. kissing), but drugs, nudity,
etc
-Example of a ‘U’ film - ‘turbo’
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-Films and DVDs for children should make clear to them the difference
between right and wrong.

5. Age Rating -
-PG stands for ‘parental guidance
-PG can be viewed by all ages but can be unsuitable for some children
-A PG film should not worry a child aged eight or older so BBFC
Examiners are thinking of eight year olds when they decide about the
rating and how strong the issues are.
-A PG tells parents that the content of the film may upset younger or more
sensitive children.

6. Age rating’s -
-The 12A rating is only used for films shown in cinemas. Films rated 12A are
suitable for children aged 12 and over. However, people younger than 12 may see
a 12A so long as they are accompanied by an adult.
-In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with
the accompanying adult.
-The 12 rating is only found on videos and DVDs. No one younger than 12 may
rent or buy a 12 rated video or DVD.
-We use exactly the same rules to rate films at 12A as we use to rate videos and
DVDs at 12.

7. Age Rating -
-No one younger than 15 can go and see a 15 rated film in the cinema. No one
younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video, DVD or download.
-15 rated films, videos and downloads can contain strong material including
strong swearing, strong horror and strong violence.

8. Age Rating -
-Films, videos and downloads rated 18 are not suitable for children. No one
younger than 18 can go and see an 18 rated film in the cinema. No one younger
than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video, DVD or download.
-18 rated films, videos and downloads can contain very strong material which is
only suitable for adults.
-This can include very strong language, horror, and violence.

9. The Crood’s

10. Case study 1 - Evil Dead
EVIL DEAD is a remake of the 1981 horror film. Five friends travel to a remote cabin
in the woods in order to help a friend withdraw from her drug addiction. After finding a
book of incantations they inadvertently unleash demonic forces. The film is rated 18
for strong bloody violence, gory horror and very strong language.There is strong
bloody violence and gory horror throughout, including sight of self-mutilation by
demon-possessed characters. There is a significant focus on the infliction of pain,
injury and bloodshed, including the cutting off of limbs and other acts of
dismemberment.In one scene a woman is assaulted by some vegetation that has
been inhabited by the demonic forces. The woman is restrained by vines and a
branch crawls up between her legs and under her skirt. No nudity is shown and there
is no strong sexual detail, but it is implied that the demons have entered her
body.EVIL DEAD also contains frequent use of strong language ('f**k') and a single
use of very strong language ('c**t'), during a scene in which a demonically possessed
woman taunts another woman in an explicitly sexual manner. Although there are
some verbal references to the drug addiction of a central character, there is no sight
of drug use. No-one younger than 18 may see an 18 rated film in the cinema. No-one
younger that 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video or DVD.

11. Case study 2 - Jaws
JAWS is a 1975 drama in which a small US island community is terrorised
by a great white shark. The film was originally classified 'A' for cinema
release in 1975 and was subsequently classified 'PG' for video release in
1987 and 1993. This cinema re-release has been classified '12A' for
moderate threat and occasional gory moments. Some of the shark attacks
include sight of blood and brief gory images, for example a spray of blood
when a boy is attacked, sight of a severed leg dropping to the bottom of
the sea. These scenes exceed the terms of the Guidelines at 'PG', which
state 'Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed' and are more
appropriately classified at '12A' where 'Moderate violence is allowed but
should not dwell on detail' and where 'Occasional gory moments may be
permitted if justified by the context'. Although the bloody and gory images
occur within a real world setting, they are seen only briefly and occur in the
context of animal attacks rather than human violence. As a result, the
violence is not sadistic in nature and the brief blood and gore serves to
establish what has happened rather than emphasising blood or
injuries.JAWS also contains a brief scene of soft drug use as a marijuana
joint is passed and smoked in the background during a party scene. It also
features brief female breast nudity in a non sexual context and some mild
bad language, including uses of 'shit', 'damned', 'God', 'Christ', 'bastards',
'goddamn', 'son of a bitch', 'crap', 'frigging', 'ass', 'screw around', 'bloody'.
Cigarette and pipe smoking is shown in a number of scenes. However, this
reflects the period in which JAWS was made and smoking is not
specifically glamorised or promoted.
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12. Case study 3 - This is the end
THIS IS THE END is a comedy about a group of Hollywood celebrities,
playing themselves, who gather for a party at James Franco's house, only to
find that the party coincides with the arrival of the Apocalypse. It is rated 15
for very strong language, strong sex references, drug use and gore.There is
frequent strong language throughout the film ('f**k', 'motherf**ker' and
'c**ksucker'), as well as a single use of very strong language ('c**t'). The
single use of very strong language is male to male and occurs within a comic
context.There are strong verbal and visual sex references, including
comments about oral sex and ejaculation, and sight of the shadow of a
comically large erect penis. In one scene, a group of male celebrities discuss
which one of them is most likely to be a rapist. This is not a serious
conversation, or an endorsement of sexual violence, but illustrates their
collective stupidity and inability to deal with the situation in which they find
themselves. This is emphasised by a female celebrity giving them a forceful
dressing down, which leaves the men thoroughly chastened.The film also
contains scenes of soft drug use and occasional sight of hard drugs. The
drug use is part of the film's lampooning of tabloid ideas of the Hollywood
lifestyle. Even though the characters involved are well known celebrity
figures, playing themselves, the use of drugs is not overtly glamorised or
endorsed.There are some gory moments in which limbs are ripped off and
characters are decapitated by the demons who have arrived with the
Apocalypse. This is presented in an exaggerated and cartoonish style that is
familiar from modern comic horror films such as SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
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