Regulation

how do they make decisions on films?

In order to protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and videos and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film or video before deciding whether or not to view it, the BBFC examines and age rates films and videos before they are released. This independent scrutiny prior to release ensures the highest possible level of protection and empowerment.

We watch films and videos all the way through and award an age rating and insight to each one. We reach an age rating by applying the standards and criteria.

what are the criteria for a 15 certificate film?

Any of the following:

•   strong violence
•  frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***').
•   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

At 15 there is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language (e.g. ‘f***’).
Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms (e.g. 'c***'), depending on the manner in which they are used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification. However, continued or aggressive use will not normally be passed 15.

what are the criteria for a 18 certificate film?

18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as:

•   very strong violence
•   frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and / or very strong language (e.g. ‘c***’)
•   strong portrayals of sexual activity
•   scenes of sexual violence
•   strong horror
•   strong blood and gore
•   real sex (in some circumstances)
•   discriminatory language and behaviour

why did slumdog millionaire get a 15 certificate?

strong language and violence.There is occasional use of strong language ('f**k') in English, as well as untranslated uses in Hindi. Occasional scenes of strong violence occur, including a scene in which a group of Muslims are attacked and beaten in the street, a man being set on fire, a shooting, the impressionistic blinding of a young boy, and scenes of torture in which a character is repeatedly electrocuted.

why did pride get a 15 certificate?

Occasional strong language ('f**k'), as well as a number of discriminatory terms, including 'queer', 'poof' and 'dyke'. The use of these words as insults is not condoned.

Verbal and visual sex references include sight of men in a club wearing 'bondage' clothing, including one with a ball gag in his mouth, and a scene in which women roar with laughter as they find a dildo and some porn magazines in a bedroom. The images in the magazines include strong sexualised nudity, but the images appear only briefly and in a very clearly comic context.

Further issues include some drug use, with one character occasionally smoking joints. There is also very mild violence, including a clash between miners and police with angry shoving and shouting, and a scene in which a brick and lit fireworks are thrown through a shop window, but no one inside is hurt.

why did kick-ass get a 15 certificate?

Frequent use of strong language ('f**k') occurs alongside a single aggressive use of very strong language ('c**t') used by a young girl towards the members of a gang.

Frequent scenes of strong bloody violence include stabbings, shootings, throat cutting, severing of limbs, and scenes of martial arts combat. Sequences are often punctuated by humour and are heavily stylised, although some sequences - including a scene of torture - maintain an element of brutality. There is also some glamorisation of weaponry, including a young girl's fascination with a butterfly knife.

Occasional strong sex references include implied scenes of masturbation, and scenes of drug use feature a man smoking a 'bong' and a character snorting a line of cocaine.

controversy surrounding prides certificate from american mpaa

'US censors have once again been accused of homophobia after British drama Pride was hit with a restrictive rating.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) handed the Cannes film festival hit an R rating, which means no one under the age of 17 can legally view it without a parent or guardian. The move prompted fury from campaigners and fans of Matthew Warchus’s film, which tells how gay and lesbian activists threw their support behind a Welsh mining community during the strike of 1984. “It is outrageous, knee-jerk homophobia,” said Peter Tatchell. “There’s no significant sex or violence in Pride to justify strong ratings. The American classification board seems to automatically view any film with even the mildest gay content as unfit for people under 17".'

how important is the bbfc in the 21s century?

not really as relevant as it was a few years ago,anyone can watch any film on line however children under 12 shouldn't be able see a 18 film at the cinema just because certificates aren't important.