1. BBFC
Jan 21/14
Assignment 7 (Due Thur)

2. What is BBFC?
• British Board of Film Classification
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

3. In America:
’Motion Picture Association of America’

4. Other world classification
Canadian TV
Ireland
Asia (China?
Japan?)
New Zealand

5. What do they classify?
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Films
Trailers
Advertising
Videos online (such as netflix)
Texts available over mobile networks
Educational videos (to be used in classroom)
Music videos
Video games

6. How do they classify?
General Classification
Considerations
Specific Classification
Considerations
Other matters
Context
Theme
Tone & Impact
Discrimination
Drugs
Imitable Behaviour
Language
Nudity
Sex
Threat
Violence
Photo or pattern sensitivity
Motion sickness
Reaction to low frequency
sound
Release format
Titles

7. What do these mean?

8. Mission of the BBFC
The BBFC is a trusted guide to media content. Working as an independent, selffinancing and not-for-profit media content regulator, the BBFC operates
transparent, consistent and trusted co-regulatory and self-regulatory classification and
labelling systems in the UK.
As a highly expert and experienced regulator, our mission is to:
• protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm
risks
• empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing choices
• recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law
• respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content through
proactive public consultation and research
• provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our statutory remit
• work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service models to
provide content advice which support emerging media delivery systems
• provide an effective service to enforcement agencies

9. Before classifying….
• Watches all way through and give classification against
Classification Guidelines
• 2 examiners review a theatrical film release and senior
examiner confirms recommendation - if any discrepancies,
other members can get involved and sometimes specialist
advice might be needed
• Same process for dvd/blue ray except 1 examiner (can be
more strict because higher risk of underage viewing in
home (therefore greater potential for harm or watching
scenes out of context)

10. BBFC insight
• In addition to film ratings you can also get
extra info from ‘insight’
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/what-bbfc-insight

11. Interventions
• Sometimes, before a film is rating an
intervention might need to take place such as:
– Cuts for category (could cut some things for lower)
– Compulsory cuts (must take things out such as illegal/obscene material)
– Refusal to classify
– Groups can appeal decisions

12. In line with laws
• Remember the BBFC work in line with laws in the
United Kingdom (different countries have different
laws)
• Examples:
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The Protection of a Child Act 1978 (eng/wales)
Protect of Children (ireland)
It is illegal to make, distribute, show or possess indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a
child.
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The Animal Welfare Act 2006
It is illegal to supply, publish or show or possess with intent to supply a video recording of an “animal fight”
that has taken place within the UK since 6 April 2007.
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The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002
It is illegal, in the course of a business, to publish a tobacco advertisement.

13. Classification Guidelines
• Specific changes to the Classification Guidelines as a result of the
public consultation include:
– • Greater weight will be given to the theme and tone of a film or video, particularly around
the 12A/12 and 15 level;
– • Particular attention will be given to the psychological impact of horror, as well as strong
visual detail such as gore;
– • Regarding language, the public wants the BBFC to be stricter with the language allowed at U
and more flexible about allowing very strong language at 15. Context, not just frequency, is
the most important factor in how language in films is perceived by the public.
THE GUIDELINES:
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classific
ation%20Guidelines%202014.pdf

14. U

15. PG

16. 12 / 12A

17. 15

18. 18

19. R18

20. Rate a trailer
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http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rate-a-trailer/student-guidelines
(student guidelines for U, PG, 12)
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http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rate-a-trailer

21. Podcasts
• You can listen to great podcasts about film
classifications!
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http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/podcasts/bbfc-podcast-episode-4-horror

22. Case Study: Dawn of the Dead
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(1978)
Rating: 18
Uncut
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http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/dawn-dead
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Main bullet point 1
Main bullet point 2
Main bullet point 3
Main bullet point 4
Main bullet point 5
Main bullet point 6
Main bullet point 7
Main bullet point 8
Main bullet point 9
Main bullet point 10

23. Assignment 7:
BBFC & Understanding of Film Rating
Name
Name
Name

24. To include:
(Done in set groups)
Maybe try PREZI for a challenge 
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Title page
Lesson points
Film Rating task
Case Study task

25. Lesson points
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What is the BBFC?
What do they classify?
What are the 7 rating symbols?
How do they classify films? (the subtitles)
Are the 7 symbols classified the same or
differently? Explain.
Could be a slide each with question as title

26. Film rating task
• Symbol
• Age restrictions
• Details of how classified (summarise)
• 1 example each of films in this category and
explain with details why it is rated this way
(could have screen grabs from film as evidence)
• Include dvd/poster of each film on the slide

27. Case Studies task
• Look on the ‘case studies’ part of the BBFC
website
• Find your film, read over together
• Include
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Film title & DVD/poster picture
Year
Rating
Details of rating ‘ex uncut’
10 main points you learned from the text

28. Groups
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Names
Leticia
Kelly
Katia
Patrycia
Noor
Courtney
Judy
Shivonne
Tayla
Gelsomina
Esere
Chelsea
Film rating
U
PG
12 & 12A
15
18
Case study
Fish Tank
My Brother
the Devil
Black Swan
4321
Juno