Film classification

Main Issues

Discrimination

Potentially offensive content, relating to such matters as race, gender, religion, disability or sexuality, may arise in a wide range of works, and the classification decision will take account of the strength or impact of its inclusion. The context in which such content may appear also has a bearing on the classification. Works with such content may receive a less restrictive category where discriminatory language and behaviour is implicitly or explicitly criticised; or the work as a whole seeks to challenge such attitudes, or is obviously dated.

Drugs

No work taken as a whole may promote the misuse of drugs and any detailed portrayal of drug misuse likely to promote or glamorise the activity may be cut. Works which show drug misuse while emphasising the dangers may receive less restrictive classifications than works that present drug misuse in a neutral manner. Where smoking, alcohol abuse or substance misuse feature to a significant extent in works which appeal to children, this will normally be indicated in the Consumer Advice and/or Extended Classification Information.

Classification decisions will also take into account any promotion or glamorisation of such activities.

Horror

The use of frightening elements which might scare or unsettle an audience is part of a long tradition of story telling and film making. Many children enjoy the excitement of scary sequences, but, where films are targeted at a younger audience, classification decisions will take into account such factors as the frequency, length and detail of scary scenes as well as horror effects, including music and sound, and whether there is a swift and reassuring outcome.

Older audiences often pay to see horror films because they like being frightened or shocked and such works are classified at an appropriate category to ensure that the young and vulnerable are protected from too intense an experience.

Imitable behaviour

Classification decisions will take into account any detailed portrayal of criminal and violent techniques, and any glamorisation of easily accessible weapons, such as knives. Works which portray anti-social behaviour (for example, bullying) uncritically are likely to receive a more restrictive classification. Works which, taken as a whole, actively promote illegal behaviour will be cut or rejected. Portrayals of potentially dangerous behaviour (especially relating to hanging, suicide and self-harm) which children and young people are likely to copy, will be cut if a more restrictive classification is not appropriate.

Language

Many people are offended, some of them deeply, by bad language. This may include the use of expletives with a sexual, religious or racial association, offensive language about minority groups and commonly understood rude gestures. The extent of that offence may vary according to age, gender, race, background, beliefs and expectations brought by viewers to the work, as well as the context in which the word, expression or gesture is used.

For these reasons, it is impossible to set out comprehensive lists of words, expressions or gestures which are acceptable at each category. The advice at different classification levels, therefore, provides general guidance taking account of the views expressed in public consultation exercises.

Nudity

Natural nudity with no sexual context is acceptable at all classification levels, but will not occur more than occasionally in the lowest category. Nudity with a sexual context will receive a more restrictive classification and strong detail in such a context will only be passed in the adult categories.

Sex

The portrayal of sexual activity can range from kissing and verbal references to ‘making love’, to detail of real sex.  This is reflected in the classification system, in which progressively stronger portrayals are allowed as the categories rise.

Sex works (works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation) are likely to be passed only in the adult categories. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’.  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 the ‘R18’ category. ‘R18’ video works may be supplied only in licensed sex shops which no one under 18 may enter.

‘R18’ films may be shown only in specially licensed cinemas.

These Guidelines will be applied to the same standard regardless of sexual orientation.

Theme

Classification decisions will take into account the theme of a work, but will depend significantly on the treatment of that theme, and especially the sensitivity of its presentation. However, the most problematic themes (for example, drug abuse, sexual violence, paedophilia, incitement to racial hatred or violence) are unlikely to be appropriate at the most junior levels of classification. Correspondingly, there is no reason in principle why most themes, however difficult, could not be presented in a manner which allowed classification at ‘18’ or even ‘15’.

Violence

Violence has always been a feature of entertainment for children and adults. Classification decisions will take account of the degree and nature of any violence in a work.

Works which feature the following are likely to receive more restrictive classifications: portrayal of violence as a normal solution to problems, heroes who inflict pain and injury, callousness towards victims, the encouragement of aggressive attitudes, and content which depicts characters taking pleasure in pain or humiliation.

Sexualised violence or works which glorify or glamorise violence will receive a more restrictive classification and may even be cut.

A strict policy on sexual violence and rape is applied. Content which might eroticise or endorse sexual violence may require cuts at any classification level. This is more likely with video works than film because of the potential for replaying scenes out of context. Any association of sex with non-consensual restraint, pain or humiliation may be cut.

Titles

If the title of a work incites hatred on grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation, or incites other criminal behaviour; or encourages an interest in abusive or illegal sexual activity, changes will be required as a condition of classification.

If the title of a work is likely to cause significant offence to a significant number of people if displayed in a public place, the distributor will be advised to consider carefully the places in which it is likely to be seen and to take appropriate action, for example by obscuring certain words on packaging or marketing materials. (This advice is not given in relation to works classified ‘R18’ as such works can only be supplied or offered for supply in a licensed sex shop.) In extreme cases, assurances on public display of the full title, or changes to the title, may be required as a condition of classification.

Photo or pattern sensitivity, motion sickness and reactions to low frequency sound

A small number of viewers are sensitive to flashing and flickering light, or some shapes and patterns, and may experience seizures or other serious physical effects. In addition, some viewers experience feelings of motion sickness or other symptoms when viewing works which feature hand held or otherwise moving camerawork, or which feature very low frequency sounds.

It is the responsibility of film makers and distributors to identify works in which such issues may arise and to ensure that, when required, appropriate warnings are given to viewers.

Such effects are therefore not normally taken into account when reaching a classification decision. However, if it is obvious during viewing that the work is highly likely to affect a significant number of viewers, the BBFC may advise the distributor of the need to ensure that appropriate warnings are in place. In extreme cases, assurances regarding the display of appropriate warnings may be required as a condition of classification.

Trailers/advertisements

Audiences actively choose to see a full length feature based on expectations of the particular genre at the given classification and on the Consumer Advice and Extended Classification Information provided by the BBFC. In contrast, audiences have no choice about the accompanying trailers or advertisements which may be very different in tone and content to the film the audience has chosen to view. In addition, because trailers and advertisements are short and self-contained, borderline material is less likely to be justified by context and more likely to cause offence.

For these reasons, classification decisions for trailers and advertisements may be more restrictive than for equivalent material in a main feature, for example:

• strong language is not permitted in trailers or advertisements at any category below ‘15’
• only one use of strong language is permitted in a trailer or advertisement at ‘15’ and must be neither threatening nor aggressive.

Advertisements for alcohol of any type can be passed at any category.  However, these may receive a more restrictive classification if there are overt attempts to associate alcohol with sexual prowess and/or a glamorous or successful lifestyle.

Advertisements for tobacco are prohibited by law.

The BBFC is not responsible for the exhibition of cinema trailers and advertisements, including alcohol advertising, and has no involvement in deciding which films they appear before. This process is the responsibility of the cinema.

Public information advertisements/charity advertisements

Where an advertisement is part of a public information campaign or has a charitable purpose, the more restrictive approach set out above will not normally apply. However, potentially shocking or offensive content in such advertisements must not go beyond what is likely to be acceptable to the particular audience.

Video games

Video games are classified under the same Guidelines and using the same categories as ‘linear’ works such as film or DVD.

The BBFC acknowledges the difference between watching a film or DVD and the more interactive experience of playing a game but recognises that, to date, limited research has been done into whether ‘interactivity’ has any significant effect on the potential for harm.

In addition, the interactivity inherent in video games may, in certain contexts, lead to a greater potential for some content to be considered unsuitable for certain age groups. The ability of a game to make a young player complicit in behaviour involving, for example, sex, drugs or realistic violence, may be as important as the level of detail shown, especially where such behaviour forms a major component of the game, and where the level of interactivity is high.

In a video game, the frequency with which an issue occurs is also often difficult to quantify, as it will depend on how the player chooses to play the game, and how many times a particular level is attempted before completion. Where frequency is a category defining issue (for example, with respect to strong language), the BBFC bases its judgement on an assessment of the frequency with which a player is likely to encounter the issue during normal gameplay.

Given the lack of research, especially in relation to harm, and given the rapid developments in the sophistication of video games, the BBFC may take a more cautious approach when a video game lies on the borderline between two categories, or contains material which raises issues of acceptability at the adult categories.