Film Classification

The BBFC is in charge of film age classification, such as 15 or an 18 rated film. These guidelines are updated every four years.

The general guideing principles for the ratings are:

• that works should be allowed to reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment.

•  that adults should, as far as possible, be free to choose what they see, provided that it remains within the law and is not potentially harmful.

When applying theses preinciples they must pace three qualifications:

 1. whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
2. whether the material, either on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature, may cause any harm at the category concerned.

3.whether the availability of the material, at the age group concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion. It is on this ground, for example, that the BBFC intervenes in respect of bad language.

 Things taken into consideration are: Discrimination, Drugs, Horror, Intimate Behaviour, Language, Nudity, Sex, Theme, Violence.

The classifications are: U - Universal, PG - Parental Guidance, 12A and 12 - 12 years of age and over 12 yrs, 15 - 15's and over, 18 - Adults, and 18R - 18 Restricted.