1. BBFC

2. About the BBFC
• Stands for The British Board of Film
Classification
• It’s been set up since 1912
• It classifies cinema films and its a non-
government, independant company
• Its a non-profit organisation that only gets
income to cover its costs from its services.
• It has never recieved any money from either
the government or the film industry

3. The categories - U
• U is universal so it is suitable to people of all ages
• Should be a positive moral film so at least children over the age of 4
do not get upset
• Cannot contain any discriminance,
• no references to illegal drugs,
• any scary scenes should be short and end up with a positive
outcome,
• cannot contain any dangerous behaviour which children are likely to
copy.
• It can only contain very mild bad language and
• no scenes of nudity, also only mild scenes of sexual nature e.g.
Kissing.
• Also only mild violence.

4. The categories - PG
• PG means parental guidance. Which means that it is general
viewing but there may be scenes which are disturbing to young
children.
• Very unlikely to contain bad language,
• any reference to illegal drugs must have an anti-drugs message.
• Any scary scenes would not be too intense, and no scenes of
danger that children are likely to copy.
• Only mild bad language acceptable,
• only natural nudity allowed with no sexual content. Sexual activity
may be implied with mild innuendo and references.
• Positive outcomes must come out.
• Mild violence may be accepted if applied to context.

5. The categories – 12/12a
• Suitable for 12 years and over.
• 12a only applies in cinema where a child under the age of
12 can see it if accompanied by an adult.
• Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be
endorsed by the work as a whole,
• any misuse of drugs must not be glamourised.
• Disturbing scenes must not be frequent or prolonged.
• Pain should not be dwelled on or glamourised.
• Moderate language allowed.
• Nudity allowed, but in sexual context must be brief as well
as brief sexual activity.
• Moderate violence allowed but shouldn’t dwell on detail.

6. The categories - 15
• Suitable for only people 15 years or older
• As a whole musn’t glamourise discriminance
• Drug use may be shown but not promoted
• Strong threat/ menace allowed unless sexualised
• Dangerous behaviour shouldn’t be dwelled on
• There may be frequent use of strong language and very
strong language if in the right context
• nudity in a sexual context allowed but not too detailed
• Sexual behaviour may be portayed without strong detail
• Violence can be strong but shouldn’t dwell on the infliction
of pain.

7. The categories - 18
• Not suitable for anyone under the age of 18
• adults should be free to choose their own entertainment.
Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been
created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm
to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example,
any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug
use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may
include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for
example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which
cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in
‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be
confined to that category.

8. The categories-R18
• R18 films are only allowed to be shown in specially
licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex
shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years
• The following is not acceptable
-any material in breach of criminal law
-material likely to encourage sexual abuse e.g.rape
-any sexual activity without consent
-pain which may cause lasting physical harm
-any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse
-penetration by any object associated with violence or
likely to cause physical harm