The British Board of Film Classification is the body that regulates what can and cannot be shown in the film industry and assigning age certificates to films. A film cannot be released via cinema or DVD if it hasn't gone through the BBFC first. Audiences can complain to the BBFC if they disagree with anything.
There are 6 age certificates in the uk; U - universal and can be shown to any age, PG - recommended parental guidance if under the age of 12, 12A - children under 12 can watch but only accompanied with someone over the age of 18, 12 - must be 12 to view at cinema or buy DVD and 15 & 18.
Things the BBFC consider when deciding on the age certificates include
- discriminatory/ obscene language
- strobe lighting
- scenes with drugs, alcohol & smoking
- self harm/ suicide
- dangerous behaviour
- scenes with sex or nudity
However this can also be put into context, the time period its set in, animated or real, fiction or non fiction ect and how the the issue is dealt with, for example romanticising drugs would be given a higher age certificate than a film that shows the negative consequences.
Sometimes the age certificate differs from DVD to cinema, e.g. the Hunger Games is a 12A in cinema but to buy the DVD they rose it to 15.
The process is straightforward, a production company will send the film to the BBFC and they will decide on an appropriate certificate, if the production company is unhappy they can re-edit and submit again, hoping to get a lower age certificate to make it more accessible for all ages. The hunger games were originally given a 15, but they re-edited and took out a lot of diegetic sound, cutting out some very bloody scenes and made the killing g shots shorter so they audience didn't see the full extent of the injury. It was then awarded a 12A in cinemas.
Audiences have sometimes complained about age rating i.e. Joker, Peter Rabbit, Logan & the woman in black (most controversial).
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