Film Classification

I visited the BBFC website to obtain information about the age certificate:

Films are classified into age categories. These are rules and guidelines to so that people know what to expect from film and how you must be to view it.

This is the criteria for a 15 certificate.

Discrimination

The film must not use discrimative language or actions.

Drugs

Drug taking is allowed to be shown but the film must not encourage or promote drug use. The miss-use of other substances such as solvents will probably not be tolerated.

Horror

Strong threatening and menace are permitted but unless sadistic or sexualised.

Language

Frequent strong language is permitted e.g. (Fuck). The strongest terms e.g. cunt may be acceptable if it is justified. Aggressive or repeated use of this language is unlikely to be allowed.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual way but not in great detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational content.

Sex

Sexual content is allowed but without great detail. There may be verbal reference to sexual behaviour, however not too strong. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be accepted.

Theme

No theme is forbidden as long as it is appropriate for 15 years old.

Violence

The violence may be strong but the film should focus for too long on pain or injury. Strong, gory images are unlikely to be unaccepted. Neither is sexualised violence. However there may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any showing of this must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

This is the criteria for an 18 certificate

18 certificate films are only suitable for adults. No one younger then 18 may view an 18 certificate film in a cinema. No-one younger then 18 may rent or buy and 18 rated film.

Sex education at 18

This is basically to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images may be allowed.

Sex works at 18

These are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Strong images of real sex, strong fetish materials, sexual explicit images or any other very strong images will be confined to the R18 category. Sex work that is unacceptable at R18 is also unacceptable at 18.

R18

The R18 category is a special restricted classification for explicit work consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films are only allowed to be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas. R18 video works may not be supplied by mail order.

The following content is not acceptable

• Any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material deemed to be obscene under the current interpretation of the obscene publication act 1959.



• Material likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity such as paedophilia, rape or incest which may include adults playing as non-adults.



• The Portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent. Any real form of physical restraint which prevents participants from making any kind of withdrawal of consent.



• The infliction of pain which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or not, in a sexual content. There is however some allowance of some moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity.



• Penetration by any object linked with violence or likely to cause physical harm.



• Any sexual threats, humiliations or abuse which does not form part of a role play. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual is doubtful to be accepted.