Key Differences

U>PG

• Some discriminatory language or behaviour may become acceptable due to context, but it must still be clearly disapproved of
• Some references to illegal drugs and drug misuse may become acceptable, but must remain in the context of an antidrug message
• More frightening sequences become allowed, though they must remain infrequent and must not be prolonged
• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour for young children is allowed as compared to none being portrayed at all
• Mild language becomes acceptable as compared to very mild
• Natural nudity no longer has to be occassional, although must remain away from a sexual context
• Sexual activity may be implied and mild references and innuendo become acceptable
• Some more serious themes become permitted
• Violence can now be moderate instead of mild, though must not be detailed

PG>12A

• Discriminatory behaviour and language becomes acceptable as long as the work as a whole does not endorse it and there is relevant context
• Misuse of drugs is now allowed but must be infrequent and not be glamorised
• Moderate horror is now allowed although it should not be prolonged or frequent
• More serious dangerous behaviour may now be portrayed, though it should not be detailed or represented as harm or pain free
• Moderate language is now allowed, including infrequent use of strong language
• Nudity is now allowed in a sexual context though must remain brief and discreet
• Sexual activity may now be briefly and discreetly portrayed whereas it could only be refered to previously
• Mature themes are now acceptable as long as they are treated appropriately
• While moderate violence must not dwell on detail, some detail is acceptable, some gory moments may become acceptable and brief references to sexual violence may become acceptable in context

12A>15

•  Discriminatory language and behaviour is now acceptable as long as it is not endorsed by the work as a whole
• Drug taking may now be shown, though not with educational detail and not easily accessible substances
• Strong threat and menace are now permitted
• Dangerous behaviour may now be portrayed as pain or harm free
• Frequent use of strong language is now acceptable, and infrequent use of strongest language where justified by context
• Nudity is now allowed in a sexual context as long as there is not too much detail. Nudity in a non sexual or educational context now has no constraints
• Sexual activity may now be portrayed though without strong detail. Verbal references may also be strong
• No theme is prohibited as long as it is treated suitabley
• Violence may now be strong although not dwelling on pain or injury and there may be detailed verbal reference to sexual violence

15>18

• At 18 rating almost everything becomes acceptable other than the exceptions seen in this post
• This includes detailed drug taking and dangerous behaviour, glamorisation of weapons, strong violence and gore and most detailed portrayals of sexual activity

18>R18

• Strong fetish material, clear images of real sex, sexually explicit animated images and other very strong sexual images become acceptable

R18

The following is not acceptable:

• Material in breach of criminal law, including that considered to be obscene under the Obscene Publications Act 1959
• Material, including dialogue, likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (eg paedophilia, incest or rape)
• The portrayal of any sexual activity that involves lack of consent or any form of physical restraint that prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
• The infliction of pain or any acts that cause lasting physical harm, whether real or simulated. Some allowances may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
• Penetration of any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
• Any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form a part of any clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse even if consensual is unlikely to be accepted

18

In accordance with the Human Rights Act 1998, the BBFC's concerns are unlikely to override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment.

Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

• Where the material is in breach of criminal law or has been created through the commission of criminal offence
• Where the material or treatment appears to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, society. For example the detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts or illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health and morals. This includes portrayals of sexualised violence which may eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. These may be acceptable in R18 works or "sex works"

In the case of video works, judgment may be harsher than in cinemas, due to the greater accessibility to younger viewers

Sex Education at 18

• Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted

Sex Works at 18

• Those whose primary purpose is that of sexual arousal or stimulation
• Those containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed as 18
• Those containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images or other very strong sexual images will be confined to R18 catergory

15

Discrimination

• The work as a whole should not endorse language or behaviour

Drugs

• The film as a whole should not promote or encourage drug misuse
• Misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances is unlikely to be acceptable

Horror

• Strong threat and menace acceptable unless sadistic or sexualised

Imitable Behaviour

• Dangerous behaviour should not dwell on detail which could be copied
• Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised

Language

• Frequent use of strong language permitted
• The strongest terms may be acceptable if justified by the context
• Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable

Nudity

• May be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail
• No constraints on nudity in a non sexual or educational context

Sex

• May be portrayed without strong detail
• There may be strong verbal references but the strongest are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context
• Work whos primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable

Theme

• No theme is prohibited providing the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds

Violence

• May be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury
• Strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable
• Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is unlikely to be acceptable
• May be detailed verbal reference to sexual violence but any portrayal must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification

12A

Discrimination

• Language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the film as a whole
• Aggressive language or behaviour unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned

Drugs

• Infrequent
• Not glamorised
• Give no instructional detail

Horror

• Moderate physical and psychological threat allowed
• However disturbing sequences should not be prolonged or frequent

Imitable Behaviour

• Dangerous behaviour (eg hanging, suicide and self harm) should not dwell on detail
• Should not be presented as pain or harm free
• Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised

Language

• Moderate language is allowed
• Strong language must be infrequent

Nudity

• Nudity allowed
• In a sexual context must be discreet and brief

Sex

• May be briefly and discreetly portrayed
• References should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers
• Frequent crude references unlikely to be acceptable

Theme

• Mature themes acceptable
• Must be treated suitably for young teenagers

Violence

• Moderate violence allowed but should not dwell on detail
• No emphasis on injuries or blood, though occassional gory moments may be permitted if justified by context
• Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated and must have strong contextual justification

PG

Discrimination

• Unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of
• Also may be acceptable in a educational or historical context

Drugs

• Must be innocuous or carry an antidrugs message

Horror

• Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense
• Fantasy context may be a mitigating factor

Imitable Behaviour

• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour that a child is likely to copy
• No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons

Language

• Mild bad language only

Nudity

• Natural nudity allowed
• No sexual context

Sex

•  May be implied but should be discreet and infrequent
• Mild references and innuendo only

Theme

• More serious issues may be featured (eg domestic violence)
• However nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour

Violence

• Moderate violence without detail may be allowed
• Should be justified by context (comedy, historical, fantasy)

U

Discrimination

•  None unless clearly disapproved of

Drugs

• No references unless infrequent and innocuous or educational anti-drug message

Horror

• Mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety
• Should result in a reassuring outcome

Imitable Behaviour

• No potentially dangerous behaviour that a child is likely to copy
• No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons

Language

• Only very mild bad language

Nudity

• Occassional natural nudity allowed
• No sexual context

Sex

• Mild sexual behaviour (eg kissing)
• References only

Theme

• Problematic themes should be treated in a sensitive and appropriate way for young children

Violence

• Mild violence only

Also note: Context is especially relevant in this catergory, a fantasy or animated context leading to much more relaxed treatment of main issues

Violence

• Takes into account the degree and nature of the violence involved
• More restrictive classifications are likely to be given with the portrayal of violence as a normal solution to problems, heroes who inflict pain and injury, callousness towards victims, encouragement of aggressive attitudes and content involving characters taking pleasure in pain or humiliation
• Sexulised violence  or works which glamorise violence will receive more restrictive classification or be cut
• Strict policy on sexualised violence and rape
• Content which might eroticise or endorse sexual violence may require cuts
• Cuts are more likely in video works due to the potential to take the scenes out of context
• Any association of sex with non-consensual restraint. pain or humiliation may be cut

Theme

• Will take into account the theme of the film
• Mostly depends on the treatment of that theme and the sensitivity of its presentation
• Problematic themes (eg drug abuse, sexual violence, paedophilia, incitement to racial hatred or violence) are unlikely to be appropriate at junior levels or classification
• Most films, no matter how difficult, could be presented in any manner at 18 or sometimes 15

Sex

• Portrayals can range from verbal references and kissing to "making love" to detail of real sex
• Progressively stronger portrayals are allowed as the catergories rise
• Sex works will only be passed in the adult catergories
• Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images or other very strong sexual images will be confined to R18
• R18 films may only be sold in licensed sex shops and shown in licensed sex cinemas
• These guidelines are applied to the same standard regardless of sexual orientation

Nudity

• Natural nudity with no sexual context is universally acceptable, however at the lowest levels of classification it must be infrequent
• Nudity with sexual context will recieve a more restrictive classification
• Strong detail in a sexual context will only be passed in adult catergories

Language

• May include expletives with sexual, religious or racial association and commonly understood rude gestures
• Offence may vary according to age, gender, race, background, beliefs and expectations brought by viwers to the work
• Context and frequency is also important
• This makes it hard to definitively list what words are acceptable at each catergory, the guidelines therefore provide general guidance based on public consultations

Imitable Behaviour

• Classification decisions take into account detailed portrayal of criminal and violent techniques
• Also applies to glamorisation of easily accessible weapons (eg knives)
• Films which portray antisocial behaviours (eg bullying) uncritically are likely to recieve more restrictive classifications
• If, taken as a whole, a film that actively promotes illegal behaviour will be cut or rejected
• Portrayals of potentially dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy will be cut if a more restrictive classification is inappropriate

Horror

• While children enjoy the excitent of scary sequences, they must still be regulated
• Factors such as frequency, length and detail and horror effects (eg soundtrack) are taken into account
• It is also taken into account whether or not there is a reassuring outcome
• Older audiences like to be frightened or shocked by horror films and appropriate classifications are put on this catergory

Drugs

• No work taken as a whole should promote the misuse of drugs
• Any detailed portrayal of drug misuse or glamorisation of drug misuse may be cut
• Works which empahasise the dangers of drug misuse might be less restrictively catergorised than those which are neutral
• Where smoking, alcohol, or substance misuse feature significantly in a film aimed at children it will be indicated in the Consumer Advice and/or Extended Classification Information

Discrimation

• Potentially offensive content may occur in a wide range of films
• The BBFC take into account the strength and impact of its inclusion
• Context is also important and has a bearing on the classification
• If the discriminatory language and behaviour is criticised, or the work as a whole seeks to challenge such attitudes it might have a less restrivtive classification
• This also applies when the work is obviously dated

Main Issues Relating to Film Classification

There are 13 main issues that must be referred to when classifying films, these are:

1. Discrimination
2. Drugs
3. Horror
4. Imitable Behaviour
5. Language
6. Nudity
7. Sex
8. Sexual Language
9. Sexual Violence
10. Theme
11. Violence
12. Weapons
13. Imitable Technique

Overriding Factors

Other factors are also taken into consideration when classifying films, these are:

Context

• The expectations of the general public and especially the films intended audience
• The film's genre, for example a fantasy setting may lighten the content and therefore be judged more leniently
• The manner of presentation, for example language used aggressively may be jusdged more harshly than the same terms used in a comic way
• The intention of the film maker, for example if the work is intended to be educational
• The original production date of the film, for example outdated attitudes might be judged more leniently in an older and clearly dated work
• Any special merits of the work

Tone and Impact

• If a film has a generally dark of unsettling tone that may disturb the audience at that catergory it may receive a more restrictive classification
• This is especially relevant to borderline junior characters, taking into consideration the level of reality, the presentation of a despairing view of the world or a lack of clear moral perspective
• The impact of the film is also taken into account, for example in a horror film, threat may be considered more significant than violence

Release Format

• Classification may be stricter on video works than on film
• This is due to the increased possibility of underaged viewing and of films being viewed out of context
• A film will occassionally require different cuts or classification on video

Legal Considerations of the BBFC

A variety of different laws are relevant to the BBFC in their classification of films, these are:

Human Rights Act 1998

• Right of respect for private and family life
• Right to freedom of expression

The Licensing Act 2003

• Cinemas require a license from the local authority in which they operate
• This must include a condition that restricts children from being admitted to films restricted from them by the BBFC or local authorities classification

The Video Recordings Act 1984

• Video works supplied on disc, tape or any other device must be classified by the BBFC unless they fall within the definition of an exempted work

The Obscene Publications Act 1959 & 1964

• It is illegal to publish any work considered obscene
• A work is considered obscene when, taken as a whole, it has a tendency to deprave and corrupt
• However, no offence is commited if the publication is in the interest of science, art, literature or learning

Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2006

• It is illegal to be in possession of an extreme pornographic image
• Works classified by the BBFC under the Video Recordings act are excluded from the scope of the offence

The Protection of Children Act 1978

• It is illegal to make, distribute, show or possess indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child (a person under the age of 18)

The Sexual Offences Act 2003

• It is illegal to expose oneself with intent to cause alarm or distress
• It is illegal for a person to record the private act of another for the sexual gratification of himself or a third party where the recorded party has not consented to being filmed

The Public Order Act 1986

• It is illegal to distribute, show or play to the public a recording of visual images or sounds which are threatening, abusive or insulting if the intention is to encourage discrimination/hatred

The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937

• It is illegal to show any scene organised or directed for the purpose of the film that involves actual cruelty to animals
• According to the Animal Welfare Act 2006, only vertebrates which are domesticated or otherwise under the control of man are considered animals

The Animal Welfare Act 2006

• It is illegal to supply, publish or show a video recording of an animal fight that has taken place within Great Britain since 6th April 2007

The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002

• It is illegal, in the course of a business, to publush a tabacco advert

General Principles of the BBFC

The BBFC follows two basic principles:

• Works should be allowed to reach to the widest audience that is appropriate
• Adults should be free to choose what they say as long as it remains within the law

These call in the considerations of:

• Whether the material is in conflict with the law
• Whether the material can cause harm to the concerned catergory, both physical and moral
• Whether the availability of the material to the concerned age group is broadly socially considered as unacceptable (this is especially relevant to bad language)