the guidelines c f b - city of lancaster
TRANSCRIPT
bbfc
Bri
tish
Bo
ard
of
Film
Cla
ssifi
catio
n
The
Gui
delin
es
The
Gui
delin
es
Con
tent
sIn
troducti
on
4
Legal
Consi
dera
tions
6
The C
ata
gori
es
8
Main
Iss
ues
10
Them
e10
Lang
uage
10
Nud
ity10
Sex
10
Vio
lenc
e11
Imita
ble
Tech
niqu
es11
Hor
ror
11
Dru
gs11
U12
PG
14
12A
16
1518
1820
R18
22
Reje
cts
24
Appeals
24
Intr
od
ucti
on
iTh
e B
ritis
h B
oard
of F
ilm C
lass
ifica
tion
(BB
FC) i
s an
inde
pend
ent,
non-
gove
rnm
enta
l bod
y fu
nded
thr
ough
the
fees
it c
harg
es t
o th
ose
who
sub
mit
film
s, v
ideo
s,D
VD
s an
d di
gita
l gam
es fo
r cl
assi
ficat
ion.
iiTh
e B
BFC
cla
ssifi
es fi
lms
on b
ehal
f of t
he lo
cal
auth
oriti
es w
ho li
cens
e ci
nem
as u
nder
the
Lic
ensi
ng
Act
200
3.
iiiTh
e B
BFC
cla
ssifi
es v
ideo
s, D
VD
s an
d so
me
digi
tal
wor
ks u
nder
the
Vid
eo R
ecor
ding
s A
ct 1
984.
(T
he d
igita
l wor
ks c
over
ed b
y th
e V
RA
are
tho
se w
hose
exem
ptio
n is
forfe
ited
unde
r se
ctio
n 2(
2) b
ecau
se t
hey
depi
ct h
uman
sex
ual a
ctiv
ity, g
ross
vio
lenc
e or
oth
erm
atte
rs o
f con
cern
.)
ivTh
e B
BFC
will
not
clas
sify
mat
eria
l whi
ch it
bel
ieve
s to
be
in b
reac
h of
the
crim
inal
law
.
vW
here
pos
sibl
e th
e B
BFC
will
carr
y ou
t its
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
thro
ugh
appr
opria
te u
se o
f the
cla
ssifi
catio
n ca
tego
ries,
part
icul
arly
in o
rder
to
prot
ect
child
ren
from
act
ual o
rpo
tent
ial h
arm
. If n
eces
sary
, how
ever
, the
Boa
rd m
ay
cuto
r ev
en r
ejec
t a
film
, vid
eo, D
VD
or
digi
tal w
ork.
Th
e B
oard
’s a
ppro
ach
to r
ejec
ts is
set
out
at
the
end
ofth
ese
Gui
delin
es.
viIn
line
with
dom
estic
adm
inis
trat
ive
law
prin
cipl
es a
ndth
e re
quire
men
ts o
f the
Hum
an R
ight
s A
ct 1
998,
ther
e is
a
part
icul
ar n
eed
to m
ake
the
clas
sific
atio
n cr
iteria
cle
ar.
This
is fu
lfille
d by
the
pub
licat
ion
of t
hese
Gui
delin
es a
ndth
eir
avai
labi
lity
on t
he B
BFC
web
site
(ww
w.b
bfc.
co.u
k)or
dire
ctly
from
the
Boa
rd.
viiT
he d
etai
l of t
he G
uide
lines
is c
onta
ined
in th
e fo
llow
ing
page
s. B
ut it
is r
ight
to
set
out
here
the
gen
eral
un
derly
ing
grou
nds
on w
hich
the
Boa
rd e
xerc
ises
the
broa
d di
scre
tion
conf
erre
d on
it. T
here
are
thr
ee m
ain
cons
ider
atio
ns:
is t
he m
ater
ial i
n co
nflic
t w
ith t
he la
w?
is t
he m
ater
ial,
at t
he a
ge g
roup
con
cern
ed, l
ikel
y to
be
harm
ful?
is t
he m
ater
ial,
at t
he a
ge g
roup
con
cern
ed, c
lear
ly
unac
cept
able
to
broa
d pu
blic
opi
nion
? (It
is o
n th
is
grou
nd, f
or e
xam
ple,
tha
t th
e B
oard
inte
rven
es in
re
spec
t of
lang
uage
. Thi
s gr
ound
als
o ap
plie
s at
‘1
8’, a
lthou
gh h
ere
it is
bal
ance
d ag
ains
t th
e pu
blic
ex
pect
atio
n th
at a
dults
sho
uld
be fr
ee t
o ch
ose
thei
r en
tert
ainm
ent,
with
in t
he la
w.)
viii
The
BB
FC C
lass
ifica
tion
Gui
delin
es r
efle
ct a
ll th
ese
cons
ider
atio
ns a
nd o
ther
s se
t ou
t la
ter.
They
are
the
prod
uct
also
of p
ublic
con
sulta
tion,
res
earc
h an
d th
eac
cum
ulat
ed e
xper
ienc
e of
the
BB
FC o
ver
man
y ye
ars.
ixTh
e G
uide
lines
, how
ever
, are
not
a le
gal d
ocum
ent
and
shou
ld b
e in
terp
rete
d in
the
spiri
t of w
hat i
s in
tend
edas
wel
l as
in t
he le
tter
. The
y ca
nnot
be
a co
mpr
ehen
sive
acco
unt o
f eve
ryth
ing
that
may
at a
ny ti
me
be o
f con
cern
.S
houl
d is
sues
aris
e w
hich
are
not
spe
cific
ally
cov
ered
here
, the
y w
ill be
dea
lt w
ith b
y th
e B
BFC
on
thei
r m
erits
and
in li
ne w
ith t
he s
tand
ards
exp
ress
ed a
ndim
plie
d ge
nera
lly.
xR
espo
nsib
ility
for
the
Gui
delin
es a
nd fo
r th
eir
inte
rpre
tatio
n re
sts
with
the
BB
FC a
nd is
sub
ject
to
norm
al c
onsi
dera
tions
of f
airn
ess
and
reas
onab
lene
ss.
xiTh
e B
BFC
und
erta
kes
to p
rovi
de g
uida
nce
on t
hein
terp
reta
tion
of t
hese
Gui
delin
es a
t an
y tim
e.
➜ ➜ ➜
prev
entio
n of
dis
orde
r or
crim
e, fo
r th
e pr
otec
tion
of
heal
th o
r m
oral
s, fo
r th
e pr
otec
tion
of t
he r
eput
atio
n
or r
ight
s of
oth
ers,
for
prev
entin
g th
e di
sclo
sure
of
info
rmat
ion
rece
ived
in c
onfid
ence
, or
for
mai
ntai
ning
the
auth
ority
and
impa
rtia
lity
of t
he ju
dici
ary.
The L
icensi
ng A
ct
2003
Cin
emas
req
uire
a li
cenc
e fro
m t
he lo
cal a
utho
rity
in w
hich
the
y op
erat
e. T
he li
cenc
e m
ust
incl
ude
a
cond
ition
req
uirin
g th
e ad
mis
sion
of c
hild
ren
(und
er
18) t
o an
y fil
m t
o be
res
tric
ted
havi
ng r
egar
d to
the
reco
mm
enda
tions
of t
he B
BFC
. The
lice
nsin
g
obje
ctiv
es a
re
the
prev
entio
n of
crim
e an
d di
sord
er
publ
ic s
afet
y
the
prev
entio
n of
pub
lic n
uisa
nce
the
prot
ectio
n of
chi
ldre
n fro
m h
arm
Oth
er
unla
wfu
l m
ate
rial
In c
arry
ing
out
its r
espo
nsib
ilitie
s, t
he B
oard
will
have
rega
rd t
o w
heth
er t
he m
ater
ial i
tsel
f app
ears
to
be
unla
wfu
l in
the
Uni
ted
Kin
gdom
, or
has
aris
en fr
om
the
com
mis
sion
of a
n un
law
ful a
ct.
The C
inem
ato
gra
ph F
ilms
(Anim
als
) A
ct
1937
It is
ille
gal t
o sh
ow a
ny s
cene
‘org
anis
ed o
r di
rect
ed’
for
the
purp
oses
of t
he fi
lm t
o in
volv
e ac
tual
cru
elty
to a
nim
als.
The P
rote
cti
on o
f C
hild
ren A
ct
1978
It is
ille
gal t
o sh
ow in
dece
nt p
hoto
grap
hs o
r
pseu
do-p
hoto
grap
hs o
f a c
hild
(und
er t
he a
ge o
f 18)
.
The O
bsc
ene P
ublic
ati
ons
Act
1959
It is
ille
gal t
o sh
ow a
wor
k w
hich
is o
bsce
ne. A
wor
k
may
be
foun
d ob
scen
e if,
tak
en a
s a
who
le, i
t ha
s a
tend
ency
to
depr
ave
and
corr
upt
(ie m
ake
mor
ally
bad)
a s
igni
fican
t pr
opor
tion
of t
hose
like
ly t
o se
e it.
The H
um
an R
ights
Act
1998
Am
ong
the
right
s es
tabl
ishe
d un
der
this
Act
are
the
right
to
resp
ect
for
priv
ate
and
fam
ily li
fe, a
nd t
he r
ight
to fr
eedo
m o
f exp
ress
ion.
Whe
n cl
assi
fyin
g w
orks
, the
BB
FC w
ill ha
ve r
egar
d to
the
impa
ct o
f any
dec
isio
n
on t
he r
ight
s of
any
rel
evan
t pe
rson
.
The
Act
per
mits
suc
h re
stric
tions
on
freed
om o
f
expr
essi
on a
s ar
e pr
escr
ibed
by
law
and
are
nec
essa
ry
in a
dem
ocra
tic s
ocie
ty, i
n th
e in
tere
sts
of n
atio
nal
secu
rity,
ter
ritor
ial i
nteg
rity
or p
ublic
saf
ety,
for
the
The V
ideo R
ecord
ings
Act
1984
The
Act
req
uire
s th
e B
BFC
to
have
spe
cial
reg
ard
(am
ong
the
othe
r re
leva
nt fa
ctor
s) t
o th
e lik
elih
ood
of w
orks
bei
ng v
iew
ed in
the
hom
e, a
nd t
o
any
harm
to
thos
e lik
ely
to v
iew
a v
ideo
any
harm
to
soci
ety
thro
ugh
the
beha
viou
r of
tho
se
view
ers
afte
rwar
ds
In c
onsi
derin
g th
ese
issu
es t
he B
oard
has
in m
ind
the
poss
ible
effe
ct n
ot o
nly
on c
hild
ren
but
also
on
othe
r
vuln
erab
le p
eopl
e.
The
Act
furt
her
requ
ires
that
spe
cial
reg
ard
is p
aid
to t
he m
anne
r in
whi
ch t
he w
ork
deal
s w
ith
crim
inal
beh
avio
ur
use
of il
lega
l dru
gs
viol
ent
beha
viou
r or
inci
dent
s
horr
ific
beha
viou
r or
inci
dent
s
hum
an s
exua
l act
ivity
Lega
l Con
side
ratio
ns
➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜
➜ ➜ ➜ ➜
.
67
In c
lass
ifyin
g fil
ms,
vid
eos
or d
igita
l med
ia, t
he B
BFC
also
giv
es c
onsi
dera
tion
to th
e fo
llow
ing
basi
c pr
inci
ples
adul
ts s
houl
d as
far
as p
ossi
ble
be fr
ee t
o
choo
se w
hat
they
see
, pro
vidi
ng t
hat
it
rem
ains
with
in t
he la
w a
nd is
not
pot
entia
lly
harm
ful t
o so
ciet
y
wor
ks s
houl
d be
allo
wed
to
reac
h th
e w
ides
t
audi
ence
tha
t is
app
ropr
iate
for
thei
r th
eme
and
trea
tmen
t
the
cont
ext
in w
hich
som
ethi
ng (e
g se
x or
viol
ence
) is
pres
ente
d is
cen
tral
to
the
ques
tion
of it
s ac
cept
abilit
y
the
BB
FC’s
Gui
delin
es w
ill be
rev
iew
ed
perio
dica
lly. T
he G
uide
lines
, and
the
Boa
rd’s
prac
tice
in a
pply
ing
them
, hav
e pa
rtic
ular
rega
rd t
o an
y ch
ange
s in
pub
lic t
aste
, att
itude
s
and
conc
erns
; cha
nges
in t
he la
w; o
r ne
w
evid
ence
from
res
earc
h or
exp
ert
sour
ces
The
Cla
ssifi
catio
n ca
tego
ries
are:
Univ
ers
al
– S
uit
able
for
all
The
Cat
egor
ies
Suit
able
only
for
adult
s. N
o-o
ne y
ounger
than
18 m
ay
see a
n ‘
18’
film
in a
cin
em
a.
No-o
ne
younger
than 1
8 m
ay
rent
or
buy
an ‘
18’
rate
d
video.
Tobe s
how
n o
nly
in s
pecia
lly l
icense
d
cin
em
as,
or
supplie
d o
nly
in l
icense
d s
ex
shops,
and t
o a
dult
s of
not
less
than 1
8 y
ears
.
Occ
asio
nally
, a w
ork
lies
on t
he m
argi
n be
twee
n tw
o
cate
gorie
s. In
app
lyin
g th
e cr
iteria
in t
hese
Gui
delin
es
in s
uch
a ca
se, t
he B
BFC
tak
es in
to a
ccou
nt t
he
inte
ntio
ns o
f the
film
-mak
er, t
he e
xpec
tatio
ns o
f the
publ
ic in
gen
eral
and
the
wor
k’s
audi
ence
in p
artic
ular
,
and
any
spec
ial m
erits
of t
he w
ork.
Cla
ssifi
catio
n de
cisi
ons
may
be
stric
ter
on v
ideo
,
DV
D a
nd d
igita
l wor
ks t
han
on fi
lm. T
his
is b
ecau
se
of t
he in
crea
sed
poss
ibilit
y of
und
er-a
ge v
iew
ing
reco
gnis
ed in
the
Vid
eo R
ecor
ding
s A
ct, a
nd o
f wor
ks
The
Cat
egor
ies
cont
inue
d
Pare
nta
l G
uid
ance –
Genera
l vi
ew
ing,
but
som
e s
cenes
may
be u
nsu
itable
for
young c
hild
ren
Suit
able
for
12 y
ears
and o
ver.
No-o
ne
younger
than 1
2 m
ay
see a
‘12A’
film
in a
cin
em
a u
nle
ss a
ccom
panie
d b
y an a
dult
.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
2 m
ay
rent
or
buy
a ‘
12’
rate
d v
ideo o
r D
VD
. R
esp
onsi
bili
ty f
or
allo
win
g
under-
12s
to v
iew
lie
s w
ith t
he a
ccom
panyi
ng
or
superv
isin
g a
dult
.
Suit
able
only
for
15 y
ears
and o
ver.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
5 m
ay
see a
‘15’
film
in
a c
inem
a.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
5 m
ay
rent
or
buy
a ‘
15’
rate
d v
ideo o
r D
VD
.
bein
g re
play
ed o
r vi
ewed
out
of c
onte
xt. A
ccor
ding
ly,
a w
ork
may
occ
asio
nally
rec
eive
a h
ighe
r ag
e
clas
sific
atio
n th
an o
n fil
m, o
r re
quire
new
or
diffe
rent
cut
s.
Cla
ssifi
catio
n de
cisi
ons
may
be
mor
e re
stric
tive
with
rega
rd t
o tr
aile
rs a
nd a
dver
tisem
ents
. Thi
s is
bec
ause
diffi
cult
cont
ent
in s
uch
shor
t w
orks
may
hav
e a
grea
ter
impa
ct o
n an
unp
repa
red
audi
ence
.
Consu
mer
Advi
ce
The
BB
FC p
rovi
des
Con
sum
er A
dvic
e on
all
the
wor
ks it
cla
ssifi
es, a
nd a
ttac
hes
impo
rtan
ce t
o th
is.
Con
sum
er A
dvic
e en
able
s th
e pu
blic
to
mak
e
info
rmed
cho
ices
. It
cove
rs in
par
ticul
ar v
iole
nce,
sex
,
lang
uage
, dru
gs a
nd a
ny o
ther
mat
ters
like
ly t
o be
of
conc
ern
to t
he p
ublic
. The
info
rmat
ion
shou
ld a
ppea
r
on p
ublic
ity fo
r al
l cin
ema
wor
ks r
ated
‘U’ t
o ‘1
8’, a
nd
on t
he p
acka
ging
of a
ll vi
deos
, DV
Ds
and
digi
tal
gam
es r
ated
‘U’ t
o ‘1
8’. T
he d
ispl
ay o
f thi
s in
form
atio
n
in p
ublic
ity o
r on
pac
kagi
ng is
ulti
mat
ely
a m
atte
r fo
r
the
film
and
vid
eo in
dust
ry. T
he B
oard
’s C
onsu
mer
Adv
ice
is, h
owev
er, a
vaila
ble
on it
s w
ebsi
te,
ww
w.b
bfc.
co.u
k.
89
➜ ➜ ➜ ➜
This
sec
tion
of t
he G
uide
lines
set
s ou
t so
me
conc
erns
whi
ch a
pply,
to
a gr
eate
r or
a le
sser
deg
ree,
at
all
clas
sific
atio
n le
vels
. The
con
cern
s ar
e lis
ted
in t
he
sam
e or
der
on t
he p
ages
follo
win
g, w
hich
pro
vide
spec
ific
guid
ance
for
‘U’ t
hrou
gh t
o ‘1
8’.
The
guid
ance
the
re s
houl
d be
rea
d in
the
ligh
t of
this
mor
e ge
nera
l adv
ice.
Them
e
The
acce
ptab
ility
of a
the
me
depe
nds
sign
ifica
ntly
on it
s tr
eatm
ent,
ie t
he c
onte
xt a
nd s
ensi
tivity
of i
ts
pres
enta
tion.
How
ever
, the
mos
t pr
oble
mat
ic t
hem
es
(for
exam
ple
drug
abu
se, s
exua
l vio
lenc
e, p
aedo
philia
,
inci
tem
ent
to r
acia
l hat
red
or v
iole
nce)
are
unl
ikel
y
to b
e ap
prop
riate
at
the
mos
t ju
nior
leve
ls o
f
clas
sific
atio
n. C
orre
spon
ding
ly, t
here
is n
o re
ason
in
prin
cipl
e w
hy m
ost
them
es, h
owev
er d
iffic
ult,
coul
d
not
be s
atis
fact
orily
han
dled
at
‘18’
or
even
‘15’
.
Language
Man
y pe
ople
are
offe
nded
, som
e of
the
m d
eepl
y, b
y
bad
lang
uage
, inc
ludi
ng t
he u
se o
f exp
letiv
es w
ith a
relig
ious
or
raci
al a
ssoc
iatio
n an
d la
ngua
ge w
hich
offe
nds
othe
r, so
met
imes
vul
nera
ble,
min
oriti
es. T
he
exte
nt o
f tha
t of
fenc
e va
ries
acco
rdin
g to
age
, gen
der,
race
, bac
kgro
und,
bel
iefs
and
exp
ecta
tions
bro
ught
by
view
ers
to t
he g
enre
on
offe
r.
The
dept
h of
con
cern
abo
ut a
ny p
artic
ular
wor
d or
expr
essi
on w
ill al
so d
epen
d up
on t
he c
onte
xt w
ithin
whi
ch it
is u
sed.
For t
hese
reas
ons,
it is
impo
ssib
le to
set
out
com
preh
en-
sive
list
s of
acc
epta
ble
wor
ds o
r exp
ress
ions
whi
ch w
ill
satis
fy a
ll se
ctio
ns o
f the
pub
lic. T
he a
dvic
e at
diff
eren
t
clas
sific
atio
n le
vels
, the
refo
re, p
rovi
des
gene
ral g
uida
nce
taki
ng a
ccou
nt o
f the
Boa
rd’s
con
sulta
tion
with
the
publ
ic.
Nudit
y
Nat
ural
nud
ity, p
rovi
ding
the
re is
no
sexu
al c
onte
xt,
is a
ccep
tabl
e at
all
clas
sific
atio
n le
vels
exc
ept
‘Uc’
.
Sex
The
portr
ayal
of h
uman
sex
ual a
ctiv
ity c
an ra
nge
from
kiss
ing
and
refe
renc
es to
‘mak
ing
love
’ to
deta
il of
real
sex.
Thi
s is
refle
cted
in th
e cl
assi
ficat
ion
syst
em, i
n w
hich
prog
ress
ivel
y st
rong
er p
ortr
ayal
is a
llow
ed a
s th
e
cate
gorie
s ris
e. T
he G
uide
lines
app
ly th
e sa
me
stan
dard
s
to h
omos
exua
l as
to h
eter
osex
ual a
ctiv
ity.
The
‘R18
’ cat
egor
y, re
quire
d by
Par
liam
ent u
nder
the
Vide
o R
ecor
ding
s A
ct, i
s pr
imar
ily fo
r ‘se
x w
orks
’, w
hose
prim
ary
purp
ose
is s
exua
l aro
usal
or s
timul
atio
n. ‘R
18’
vide
os a
nd D
VDs
may
be
supp
lied
only
in li
cens
ed s
ex
shop
s w
hich
no-
one
unde
r 18
may
ent
er. ‘
R18
’ film
s m
ay
be s
how
n on
ly in
spe
cial
ly li
cens
ed c
inem
as.
Vio
lence
Vio
lenc
e ha
s al
way
s be
en a
feat
ure
of e
nter
tain
men
t
for
child
ren
and
adul
ts. W
e ad
dres
s th
e de
gree
and
natu
re o
f vio
lenc
e th
roug
h ou
r cl
assi
ficat
ion
syst
em.
In m
akin
g de
cisi
ons
our
conc
erns
, esp
ecia
lly a
t th
e
low
er c
ateg
orie
s, in
clud
e
port
raya
l of v
iole
nce
as a
nor
mal
sol
utio
n
to p
robl
ems
hero
es w
ho in
flict
pai
n an
d in
jury
callo
usne
ss t
owar
ds v
ictim
s
enco
urag
ing
aggr
essi
ve a
ttitu
des
taki
ng p
leas
ure
in p
ain
or h
umilia
tion
Wor
ks w
hich
glo
rify,
gla
mor
ise
or s
exua
lise
viol
ence
will
rece
ive
a m
ore
rest
rictiv
e cl
assi
ficat
ion
and
may
even
be
cut.
The
BB
FC h
as a
str
ict
polic
y on
rap
e an
d se
xual
viol
ence
. With
por
tray
als
of s
exua
l vio
lenc
e w
hich
mig
ht e
g er
otic
ise
or e
ndor
se s
exua
l ass
ault
the
Boa
rd m
ay r
equi
re c
uts
at a
ny c
lass
ifica
tion
leve
l.
This
is m
ore
likel
y w
ith D
VD
or
vide
o th
an fi
lm b
ecau
se
DV
D a
nd v
ideo
sce
nes
can
be r
epla
yed
repe
ated
ly.
Any
ass
ocia
tion
of s
ex w
ith n
on-c
onse
nsua
l res
trai
nt,
pain
or
hum
iliatio
n m
ay b
e cu
t.
Imit
able
techniq
ues
The
BB
FC is
con
cern
ed a
bout
det
aile
d po
rtra
yal o
f
crim
inal
and
vio
lent
tec
hniq
ues
and
the
glam
oris
atio
n
of e
asily
acc
essi
ble
wea
pons
. Act
ion
whi
ch m
ay
prom
ote
illega
l or
anti-
soci
al b
ehav
iour
, and
por
tray
als
of p
oten
tially
dan
gero
us b
ehav
iour
whi
ch y
oung
child
ren
are
likel
y to
cop
y, a
re o
f par
ticul
ar c
once
rn.
Exa
mpl
es o
f the
Boa
rd’s
con
cern
s in
thi
s ar
ea in
clud
e
com
bat
tech
niqu
es, h
angi
ng, s
uici
de a
nd s
elf-
harm
.
Horr
or
The
BB
FC r
ecog
nise
s th
at a
udie
nces
pay
to
see
horr
or fi
lms
beca
use
they
like
bei
ng fr
ight
ened
. The
Boa
rd d
oes
not
cut
film
s si
mpl
y be
caus
e th
ey a
larm
or s
hock
. Ins
tead
, it
clas
sifie
s th
em t
o en
sure
tha
t th
e
youn
g an
d vu
lner
able
are
pro
tect
ed fr
om t
oo in
tens
e
an e
xper
ienc
e.
Dru
gs
No
wor
k ta
ken
as a
who
le m
ay p
rom
ote
or e
ncou
rage
the
use
of il
lega
l dru
gs. A
ny d
etai
led
port
raya
l of d
rug
use
likel
y to
pro
mot
e or
gla
mor
ise
the
activ
ity m
ay b
e
cut.
Wor
ks w
hich
pro
mot
e or
gla
mor
ise
smok
ing,
alco
hol a
buse
or
subs
tanc
e m
isus
e m
ay a
lso
be a
conc
ern,
par
ticul
arly
at
the
juni
or c
ateg
orie
s.
Mai
n Is
sues
cont
inue
dM
ain
Issu
es
➜ ➜➜➜ ➜
10
11
UU
niv
ers
al
– S
uit
able
for
all
It i
s im
poss
ible
to p
redic
t w
hat
mig
ht
upse
t
any
part
icula
r child
. B
ut
a ‘
U’
film
should
be
suit
able
for
audie
nces
aged f
our
years
and
ove
r. ‘
U’
film
s sh
ould
be s
et
wit
hin
a p
osi
tive
mora
l fr
am
ew
ork
and s
hould
off
er
reass
uri
ng
counte
rbala
nces
to a
ny
viole
nce,
thre
at
or
horr
or.
Vid
eos
clas
sifie
d ‘U
c’ a
re p
artic
ular
ly s
uita
ble
for
pre-
scho
ol c
hild
ren
and
norm
ally
rai
se n
one
of t
he
issu
es s
et o
ut b
elow
.
Them
e
Trea
tmen
t of
pro
blem
atic
the
mes
mus
t be
sen
sitiv
e
and
appr
opria
te fo
r a
youn
ger
audi
ence
.
Language
Infre
quen
t us
e on
ly o
f ver
y m
ild b
ad la
ngua
ge.
Nudit
y
Occ
asio
nal n
atur
al n
udity
, with
no
sexu
al c
onte
xt.
Sex
Mild
sex
ual b
ehav
iour
(eg
kiss
ing)
and
ref
eren
ces
only
(eg
to ‘m
akin
g lo
ve’).
Vio
lence
Mild
vio
lenc
e on
ly. O
ccas
iona
l mild
thre
at o
r men
ace
only.
Imit
able
techniq
ues
No
emph
asis
on
real
istic
or
easi
ly a
cces
sibl
e
wea
pons
. No
pote
ntia
lly d
ange
rous
beh
avio
ur w
hich
youn
g ch
ildre
n ar
e lik
ely
to c
opy.
Horr
or
Hor
ror
effe
cts
shou
ld b
e m
ild a
nd b
rief a
nd s
houl
d
take
acc
ount
of t
he p
rese
nce
of v
ery
youn
g vi
ewer
s.
The
outc
ome
shou
ld b
e re
assu
ring.
Dru
gs
No
refe
renc
es t
o ille
gal d
rugs
or
drug
mis
use
unle
ss
ther
e is
a c
lear
edu
catio
nal p
urpo
se o
r cl
ear
anti-
drug
mes
sage
sui
tabl
e fo
r th
e au
dien
ce.
12
13
PGP
are
nta
l G
uid
ance –
Genera
l vi
ew
ing,
but
som
e s
cenes
may
be u
nsu
itable
for
young c
hild
ren
Unaccom
panie
d c
hild
ren o
f any
age m
ay
watc
h.
A ‘
PG
’ fi
lm s
hould
not
dis
turb
a c
hild
aged a
round e
ight
or
old
er.
How
eve
r, p
are
nts
are
advi
sed t
o c
onsi
der
wheth
er
the c
onte
nt
may
upse
t yo
unger
or
more
sensi
tive
child
ren.
Them
e
Whe
re m
ore
serio
us is
sues
are
feat
ured
(eg
dom
estic
viol
ence
, rac
ist
abus
e) n
othi
ng in
the
ir tr
eatm
ent
shou
ld c
ondo
ne t
he b
ehav
iour
.
Language
Mild
bad
lang
uage
onl
y.
Nudit
y
Nat
ural
nud
ity, w
ith n
o se
xual
con
text
.
Sex
Sex
ual a
ctiv
ity m
ay b
e im
plie
d, b
ut s
houl
d be
dis
cree
t
and
infre
quen
t. M
ild s
ex r
efer
ence
s an
d in
nuen
do o
nly.
Vio
lence
Mod
erat
e vi
olen
ce, w
ithou
t de
tail,
may
be
allo
wed
, if
just
ified
by
its s
ettin
g (e
g hi
stor
ic, c
omed
y or
fant
asy)
.
Imit
able
techniq
ues
No
glam
oris
atio
n of
rea
listic
or
easi
ly a
cces
sibl
e
wea
pons
. No
deta
il of
pot
entia
lly d
ange
rous
beha
viou
r w
hich
you
ng c
hild
ren
are
likel
y to
cop
y.
Horr
or
Frig
hten
ing
sequ
ence
s sh
ould
not
be
prol
onge
d or
inte
nse.
Fan
tasy
set
tings
may
be
a m
itiga
ting
fact
or.
Dru
gs
Any
ref
eren
ces
to il
lega
l dru
gs o
r dr
ug m
isus
e m
ust
be
inno
cuou
s or
car
ry a
sui
tabl
e an
ti-dr
ug m
essa
ge.
14
15
12A
Suit
able
for
12 y
ears
and o
ver.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
2 m
ay
see a
‘12A’
film
in a
cin
em
a u
nle
ss a
ccom
panie
d b
y an a
dult
.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
2 m
ay
rent
or
buy
a ‘
12’
rate
d v
ideo o
r D
VD
. R
esp
onsi
bili
ty f
or
allo
win
g
under-
12s
to v
iew
lie
s w
ith t
he a
ccom
panyi
ng
or
superv
isin
g a
dult
.
Them
e
Mat
ure
them
es a
re a
ccep
tabl
e, b
ut t
heir
trea
tmen
t
mus
t be
sui
tabl
e fo
r yo
ung
teen
ager
s.
Language
The
use
of s
tron
g la
ngua
ge (e
g ‘fu
ck’)
mus
t be
infre
quen
t. R
acis
t ab
use
is a
lso
of p
artic
ular
con
cern
.
Nudit
y
Nud
ity is
allo
wed
, but
in a
sex
ual c
onte
xt m
ust
be
brie
f and
dis
cree
t.
Sex
Sex
ual a
ctiv
ity m
ay b
e im
plie
d. S
ex r
efer
ence
s m
ay
refle
ct w
hat
is li
kely
to
be fa
milia
r to
mos
t ad
oles
cent
s
but
shou
ld n
ot g
o be
yond
wha
t is
sui
tabl
e fo
r th
em.
Vio
lence
Vio
lenc
e m
ust
not
dwel
l on
deta
il. T
here
sho
uld
be n
o
emph
asis
on
inju
ries
or b
lood
. Sex
ual v
iole
nce
may
only
be
impl
ied
or b
riefly
and
dis
cree
tly in
dica
ted.
Imit
able
techniq
ues
Dan
gero
us t
echn
ique
s (e
g co
mba
t te
chni
ques
,
hang
ing,
sui
cide
and
sel
f-ha
rmin
g) s
houl
d no
t dw
ell
on im
itabl
e de
tail
or a
ppea
r pa
in o
r ha
rm fr
ee.
Eas
ily a
cces
sibl
e w
eapo
ns s
houl
d no
t be
gla
mor
ised
.
Horr
or
Sus
tain
ed m
oder
ate
thre
at a
nd m
enac
e ar
e pe
rmitt
ed.
Occ
asio
nal g
ory
mom
ents
onl
y.
Dru
gs
Any
mis
use
of d
rugs
mus
t be
infre
quen
t an
d sh
ould
not
be g
lam
oris
ed o
r in
stru
ctio
nal.
16
17
15S
uit
able
only
for
15 y
ears
and o
ver
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
5 m
ay
see a
‘15’
film
in
a c
inem
a.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
5 m
ay
rent
or
buy
a ‘
15’
rate
d v
ideo o
r D
VD
.
Them
e
No
them
e is
pro
hibi
ted,
pro
vide
d th
e tr
eatm
ent
is
appr
opria
te t
o 15
yea
r ol
ds.
Language
Ther
e m
ay b
e fre
quen
t us
e of
str
ong
lang
uage
(eg
‘fuck
’). B
ut t
he s
tron
gest
ter
ms
(eg
‘cun
t’) w
ill be
acce
ptab
le o
nly
whe
re ju
stifi
ed b
y th
e co
ntex
t.
Con
tinue
d ag
gres
sive
use
of t
he s
tron
gest
lang
uage
is
unlik
ely
to b
e ac
cept
able
.
Nudit
y
Nud
ity m
ay b
e al
low
ed in
a s
exua
l con
text
but
with
out
stro
ng d
etai
l. Th
ere
are
no c
onst
rain
ts o
n nu
dity
in a
non-
sexu
al o
r ed
ucat
iona
l con
text
.
Sex
Sex
ual a
ctiv
ity m
ay b
e po
rtra
yed
but
with
out
stro
ng
deta
il. T
here
may
be
stro
ng v
erba
l ref
eren
ces
to
sexu
al b
ehav
iour
.
Vio
lence
Vio
lenc
e m
ay b
e st
rong
but
may
not
dw
ell o
n th
e
infli
ctio
n of
pai
n or
inju
ry. S
cene
s of
sex
ual v
iole
nce
mus
t be
dis
cree
t an
d br
ief.
Imit
able
techniq
ues
Dan
gero
us t
echn
ique
s (e
g co
mba
t te
chni
ques
,
hang
ing,
sui
cide
and
sel
f-ha
rmin
g) s
houl
d no
t dw
ell
on im
itabl
e de
tail.
Eas
ily a
cces
sibl
e w
eapo
ns s
houl
d
not
be g
lam
oris
ed.
Horr
or
Str
ong
thre
at a
nd m
enac
e ar
e pe
rmitt
ed.
The
stro
nges
t gor
y im
ages
are
unl
ikel
y to
be
acce
ptab
le.
Dru
gs
Dru
g ta
king
may
be
show
n bu
t th
e fil
m a
s a
who
le
mus
t no
t pr
omot
e or
enc
oura
ge d
rug
mis
use.
18
19
18S
uit
able
only
for
adult
s
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
8 m
ay
see a
n ‘
18’
film
in a
cin
em
a.
No-o
ne y
ounger
than 1
8 m
ay
rent
or
buy
an ‘
18’
rate
d v
ideo.
In li
ne w
ith t
he c
onsi
sten
t fin
ding
s of
the
BB
FC’s
pub
licco
nsul
tatio
ns, a
t ‘1
8’ t
he B
BFC
’s g
uide
line
conc
erns
will
not
norm
ally
ove
rrid
e th
e w
ish
that
adu
lts s
houl
d be
free
toch
ose
thei
r ow
n en
terta
inm
ent,
with
in th
e la
w. E
xcep
tions
are
mos
t lik
ely
in th
e fo
llow
ing
area
s
whe
re m
ater
ial o
r tr
eatm
ent
appe
ars
to t
he B
oard
to
risk
harm
to
indi
vidu
als
or, t
hrou
gh t
heir
beha
viou
r, to
so
ciet
y –
eg a
ny d
etai
led
port
raya
l of v
iole
nt o
r da
nger
ous
acts
, or
of il
lega
l dru
g us
e, w
hich
is li
kely
to
pro
mot
e th
e ac
tivity
. The
Boa
rd m
ay a
lso
inte
rven
e w
ith p
ortr
ayal
s of
sex
ual v
iole
nce
whi
ch m
ight
, eg
erot
icis
e or
end
orse
sex
ual a
ssau
lt
the
mor
e ex
plic
it im
ages
of s
exua
l act
ivity
– u
nles
s th
ey c
an b
e ex
cept
iona
lly ju
stifi
ed b
y co
ntex
t an
d th
e w
ork
is n
ot a
‘sex
wor
k’ a
s de
fined
bel
ow.
In t
he c
ase
of v
ideo
s an
d D
VD
s, w
hich
may
be
mor
eac
cess
ible
to
youn
ger
view
ers,
inte
rven
tion
may
be
mor
efre
quen
t. Fo
r th
e sa
me
reas
on, a
nd b
ecau
se o
f the
di
ffere
nt w
ay in
whi
ch t
hey
are
expe
rienc
ed, t
he B
oard
may
tak
e a
mor
e pr
ecau
tiona
ry a
ppro
ach
in t
he c
ase
ofth
ose
digi
tal g
ames
whi
ch a
re c
over
ed b
y th
e V
ideo
Rec
ordi
ngs
Act
.
Sex
educati
on a
t ‘1
8’
Whe
re s
ex m
ater
ial g
enui
nely
see
ks to
info
rm a
nd e
duca
tein
mat
ters
suc
h as
hum
an s
exua
lity,
saf
e se
x an
d he
alth
,ex
cept
ions
to th
e no
rmal
con
stra
ints
on
expl
icit
imag
es m
aybe
mad
e in
the
pub
lic in
tere
st. S
uch
expl
icit
deta
il m
ust b
eke
pt to
the
min
imum
nec
essa
ry to
illu
stra
teth
e ed
ucat
iona
lor
inst
ruct
iona
l poi
nts
bein
g m
ade.
Sex
work
s at
‘18’
Sex
wor
ks a
re w
orks
, nor
mal
ly o
n vi
deo
or D
VD
, who
sepr
imar
y pu
rpos
e is
sex
ual a
rous
al o
r stim
ulat
ion.
Sex
wor
ksco
ntai
ning
onl
y m
ater
ial w
hich
may
be
sim
ulat
ed a
re
gene
rally
pas
sed
‘18’
, whi
le s
ex w
orks
con
tain
ing
clea
rim
ages
of r
eal s
ex a
re c
onfin
ed t
o th
e ‘R
18’ c
ateg
ory.
20
21
➜ ➜
R18
Tobe s
how
n o
nly
in s
pecia
lly l
icense
d c
inem
as,
or
supplie
d o
nly
in l
icense
d s
ex
shops,
and t
o
pers
ons
of
not
less
than 1
8 y
ears
.
The ‘
R18’
cate
gory
is
a s
pecia
l and l
egally
rest
ricte
d c
lass
ific
ati
on p
rim
ari
ly f
or
exp
licit
work
s
of
conse
nti
ng s
ex
betw
een a
dult
s. F
ilms
may
only
be s
how
n t
o a
dult
s in
specia
lly l
icense
d c
inem
as,
and v
ideos
may
be s
upplie
d t
o a
dult
s only
in
license
d s
ex
shops.
‘R
18’
videos
may
not
be
supplie
d b
y m
ail
ord
er.
The
follo
win
g co
nten
t is
not
acc
epta
ble
any
mat
eria
l whi
ch is
in b
reac
h of
the
crim
inal
law
,
incl
udin
g m
ater
ial j
udge
d to
be
obsc
ene
unde
r th
e cu
rren
t
inte
rpre
tatio
n of
the
Obs
cene
Pub
licat
ions
Act
195
9
mat
eria
l (in
clud
ing
dial
ogue
) lik
ely
to e
ncou
rage
an
inte
rest
in s
exua
lly a
busi
ve a
ctiv
ity (e
g pa
edop
hilia
, inc
est,
rape
)
whi
ch m
ay in
clud
e ad
ults
rol
e-pl
ayin
g as
non
-adu
lts
the
port
raya
l of a
ny s
exua
l act
ivity
whi
ch in
volv
es la
ck o
f
cons
ent
(whe
ther
rea
l or
sim
ulat
ed).
Any
form
of p
hysi
cal
rest
rain
t w
hich
pre
vent
s pa
rtic
ipan
ts fr
om in
dica
ting
a
with
draw
al o
f con
sent
the
infli
ctio
n of
pai
n or
phy
sica
l har
m, r
eal o
r (in
a s
exua
l
cont
ext)
sim
ulat
ed. S
ome
allo
wan
ce m
ay b
e m
ade
for
mild
con
sens
ual a
ctiv
ity. P
enet
ratio
n by
any
obj
ect
likel
y
to c
ause
act
ual h
arm
or
asso
ciat
ed w
ith v
iole
nce
any
sexu
al t
hrea
ts, h
umilia
tion
or a
buse
whi
ch d
oes
not
form
par
t of
a c
lear
ly c
onse
ntin
g ro
le-p
layi
ng g
ame.
Str
ong
abus
e, e
ven
if co
nsen
sual
, is
unlik
ely
to b
e
acce
ptab
le.
Thes
e gu
idel
ines
will
be a
pplie
d to
the
sam
e st
anda
rd
whe
ther
the
act
ivity
is h
eter
osex
ual o
r ho
mos
exua
l.
22
23
➜ ➜➜➜ ➜
Reje
cts
The
Boa
rd w
ill at
tem
pt t
o de
al w
ith fi
lms,
vid
eos
or
DV
Ds
whi
ch a
re u
nacc
epta
ble
at a
ny c
ateg
ory
thro
ugh
inte
rven
tion
such
as
mak
ing
cuts
or
requ
iring
the
addi
tion
of w
arni
ng c
aptio
ns. I
f thi
s is
not
pos
sibl
e or
not
acce
ptab
le t
o th
e di
strib
utor
, wor
ks m
ay b
e
refu
sed
clas
sific
atio
n al
toge
ther
. ‘Ta
boo’
the
mes
are
acce
ptab
le, b
ut n
ot if
the
ir tr
eatm
ent
is li
kely
to
enco
urag
e ha
rm t
o vi
ewer
s or
, thr
ough
the
ir be
havi
our,
to s
ocie
ty. T
he fo
llow
ing
are
of p
artic
ular
con
cern
grap
hic
rape
or
tort
ure
sadi
stic
vio
lenc
e or
ter
roris
atio
n
illega
l and
gla
mor
ised
dru
g us
e
mat
eria
l lik
ely
to in
cite
rac
ial h
atre
d or
vio
lenc
e
port
raya
ls o
f chi
ldre
n in
a s
exua
lised
or
abus
ive
cont
ext
sex
acco
mpa
nied
by
non-
cons
ensu
al p
ain,
inju
ry
or h
umilia
tion
mat
eria
l lik
ely
to b
e fo
und
obsc
ene
by t
he c
ourt
s.
Appeals
A d
istr
ibut
or w
ho d
isag
rees
with
a c
lass
ifica
tion
deci
sion
for
thei
r w
ork
may
app
eal a
gain
st it
dire
ctly
to t
he B
oard
. Add
ition
ally,
in t
he c
ase
of fi
lms,
the
com
pany
(or
any
mem
ber
of t
he p
ublic
) may
add
ress
itsel
f to
the
loca
l aut
horit
y w
hich
lice
nses
cin
emas
in a
part
icul
ar a
rea.
In t
he c
ase
of v
ideo
s, D
VD
s an
d
gam
es a
com
pany
may
app
eal t
o th
e V
ideo
App
eals
Com
mitt
ee w
hich
is in
depe
nden
t of
the
Boa
rd.
The
publ
ic c
an m
ake
its v
iew
s kn
own
to t
he B
oard
at a
ny s
tage
of t
he c
lass
ifica
tion
proc
ess.
Bri
tish
Board
of
Film
Cla
ssif
icati
on
3 S
oho S
quare
London
W1D
3H
D
Mai
n w
ebsi
te: w
ww
.bbf
c.co
.uk
Web
site
for
child
ren
(age
s 9-
12):
ww
w.c
bbfc
.co.
uk
Web
site
for
stud
ents
(age
12+
): w
ww
.sbb
fc.c
o.uk
t:02
0 74
40 1
570
f:02
0 72
87 0
141
e:
cont
act_
the_
bbfc
@bb
fc.c
o.uk
➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ ➜ 24
