BBFC Ratings

Role of The BBFC

The BBFC

'The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/ DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.'

Here is a link to a case study made by employees of the BBFC in regards as to how they classify and rate films: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/attack-block

Our Film Classification

As a genre, family films are most often aimed at a younger demographic, so therefore are usually rated at PG or a U. Our project would be leaning more towards a PG however, rather than the U rating, due to the more serious content later in the film, as shown on the 'Main Project Pitch' post. The rating would have to consider the mild violence we were hoping to add to our opening, in which the protagonists pretend to fight with bamboo sticks. Other than that, the language is clean and suitable for children, the worst thing said in the script is "shut up", which is considered rude to some parents.

This is the BBFC's specification of a Parental Guidance (PG) film:

• General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.
• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of, or in an educational or historical context, or in a particularly dated work with no likely appeal to children. Discrimination by a character with whom children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.
• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy, if that behaviour is presented as safe or fun. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No focus on anti-social behaviour which young children are likely to copy.
• Mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use of mild bad language may result in a work being passed at a higher category.
• There may be nudity with no sexual context. Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.
• Frightening sequences or situations where characters are in danger should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.
• Violence will usually be mild. However there may be moderate violence, without detail, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).

This is the BBFC's specification of a Universal (U) film:

• A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four or over, although its impossible to predict what might upset any particualr child.
• U films shoudl be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particualrly suitable for pre-school children, this will be indicated by BBFCinsight 
• Discrimanatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of
• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent an innocuous, or have a clear eductaional purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children
• Potentially dangerous or anti-social behaviour which young children may copy must be clearly disapproved of. No emphasis on realistic or easy accessable weapons.
• Infrequent use of only very mild bad language 
• Occasional nudity, with no sexual content
• Only very mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references to such behaviour 
• Scary or potentially unsettling sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring. 
• Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly realistic)