BBFC Institution Research

What is BBFC?

The BBFC is an independent, non-governmental body which classifies cinema films. It's a not for profit organisation, it's income is from the fees it charges for its services.

How are films rated?

Examiners watch films for cinema release in the BBFC's cinema, in order to accurately reproduce the effect that sound levels and special effects will have on the cinema audience. DVDs are viewed in the BBFC's viewing rooms on plasma screens, to recreate the 'home viewing' experience. Where the work is in a language not spoken by any of the Examiners and there are no subtitles, the BBFC will use an interpreter who will sit alongside the Examiner or team. Examiners log details of what they watch, including: general context - plot, characters, outline of individual scenes, timings of key moments, including camera angles, type of shots, on- and off-screen moments, bad language, sex and drug references etc.

The issues faced when categorising a film?

They need to consider:

• conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• harmful to the viewer
• unacceptable to appear to a wider audience 
• acceptably portraying the dominant issue 
• problematic within its tone

Alongside considering the relevant legislation, the main age rating issues that need to be taken into account include:

• Violence

• Sex

• Sexual Violence

• Drugs

• Horror

• Imitable Behaviour

• Discrimination

• Language

Controversial Decisions- The Dark Knight

The main classification issues in The Dark Knight are violence and threat. BBFC Guidelines for 12A at the time stated ‘Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries and blood’ and ‘Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted. Occasional gory moments only. The examiners who classified the film agreed it met the Guidelines criteria, however, there were a significant numbers of complaints about the 12A rating from members of the public. The rating was given due to the identification with Batman and the fact that the previous Batman was also rated a 12A. Although the antagonist, the villain, The Joker, uses a knife, the use of the weapon is not accentuated or glamorised to encourage the use of the violence. The BBFC received 364 complaints about the age rating. Parents and viewers thought that the tone of the film was too dark to show to younger audiences without making them feel uncomfortable or scared.

Guidelines for a 15 Certificate

15 Certificate - 'There may be frequent use of strong language. The strongest terms may be acceptable if justified by context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable'. 

• strong violence
• frequent strong language
• 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

Juno Classification

12A Uncut- It was submitted to the BBFC with a PG request. The key classification issues in the work are infrequent strong language, moderate sex references and brief sight of a gory scene from an old horror movie The Wizard Of Gore (rated 18). When making their recommendations examiners also discussed the film’s tone, likely appeal and audience, and the treatment of the theme of teenage pregnancy.