Poppy Driscoll

BBFC RESEARCH
For our thriller we are looking for either a 12A, 12 or 15 rating as we want to keep it to the expectations
associated with the thriller/horror genre and create a realistic feel to our short film. Rating our film at a 12A or 12
will make room for a wider audience including parents and families who may all go together to watch the film but
may discourage older teens to watch the film; whereas a 15 rating will let the audience know it is a serious
thriller with a more heightened storyline influencing an older audience to come and see it.

What does the 12A symbol mean?

Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged
below 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult . Adults
planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.

What's the difference between 12A and 12?

The 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film at the cinema. This is enforced by
cinema staff and a cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12
admitted to a 12A film. Accompanied viewing cannot be enforced in the home, so the 12 certificate remains for
DVD/Blu-ray, rather than the 12A. The 12 is also a simpler system for retailers. It means they cannot sell or rent
the item unless the customer is over the age of 12.

Is there a lower age limit for a 12A film?

No. However, the BBFC considers the content of 12A rated films to be suitable for children aged 12 and over, and
we would not recommend taking very young children to see them. Works classified at these categories may
upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that
child.

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How important is the tone of a film at 12A or 12?

The overall tone of a film or video, and the way it makes the audience feel may affect the classification. For
example, a work which has a very dark or unsettling tone which could disturb the audience would be less likely to
be passed 12A even if the individual issues in the film were considered acceptable under the BBFC Guidelines.
Similarly, if a work is particularly positive or reassuring this may stop it being pushed up a category from 12A to
15.

Will there be uses of strong language in a 12A or 12?

The BBFC's Guidelines state that strong language (e.g. 'f***') may be passed at 12 or 12A, depending on the
manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification.
Aggressive uses of strong language may result in a film or DVD being placed at the 15 category. There is some
allowance for puns on strong language at this category.
There may be moderate language (e.g. uses of terms such as bitch and twat at 12 or 12A).

What about discrimination?

Any discriminatory language or behaviour will not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory
language (for example homophobic or racist terms) is unlikely to be passed at 12A or 12 unless it is clearly
condemned.

Do 12A films contain sexual behaviour?

Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12A or 12. Verbal sex references should not go beyond what is
suitable for young teenagers. Comedy may lessen the impact of some moderate sex references or innuendo but
frequent crude sex references are unlikely to be accepted at this category. There may be nudity in 12A films but
nudity in a sexual context should only be brief and discreet.
Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality.

What sort of violence can I expect in a 12A or 12?

At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or
blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context (for example brief
sight of bloody injury in a medical drama).
Action sequences and weapons may be present at 12A or 12, and there may be long fight scenes or similar.
Weapons which might be easily accessible to 12 year olds (such as knives) should not be glamorised in 12A and
12 works.
Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated at 12A
and 12. Such scenes must also have a strong contextual justification.

Poppy Driscoll

Can horror films be passed 12 or 12A?

Yes, some horror films are passed at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at
12A or 12A as long as horror sequences are not too frequent or sustained and the overall tone is not disturbing.

What about other issues like imitable behaviour or drugs at 12A

or 12?
Dangerous behaviour (for example hanging and suicide) may be present in 12A or 12 works but will not dwell on
detail which could be copied or present those activities in a manner that children are likely to copy.
Anti-social behaviour should not be endorsed.
There may be infrequent sight of drugs misuse in a 12A or a 12 but the portrayal should not be glamorised or
provide instructional detail.

What does the 15 symbol mean?

No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated video. 15 rated works are not
suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Are there any limits on what sort of theme a work can have at 15?
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

What might I see in a 15 rated film or video?

Any of the following:
strong violence
frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***').
portrayals of sexual activity

Poppy Driscoll
strong verbal references to sex
sexual nudity
brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
discriminatory language or behaviour
drug taking

How much strong language is allowed in a 15?

There could potentially be a great deal. At 15 there is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language
(e.g. f***).
Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms (e.g. 'c***'), depending on the manner in which they are
used, who is using the language, its frequency and any special contextual justification. However, continued or
aggressive use will not normally be passed 15.

What about discriminatory or offensive terms?

There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language, and the work could explore themes relating
to this.
However, at 15 the work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

How much sex and nudity is allowed at 15?

At 15 sexual activity can be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. Some sex scenes can be quite long at
this category.
Though nudity may be allowed in a sexual context there will usually be no strong detail. There are no constraints
on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
There can be strong references to sex and sexual behaviour, but especially strong or crude references are
unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context.
Sex and sex references are treated the same irrespective of sexuality

Can there be strong violence?

Yes, at 15 violence may be strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, however, and the strongest
gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

Poppy Driscoll

What about sexual violence?

There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence (for example descriptions of rape or sexual assault in
a courtroom scene or in victim testimony) but any portrayal depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and
justified by context.

What about horror?

At 15 there can be strong threat and horror as long as there is no sustained focus on sadistic or sexualised
threat.

Can you see drugs in a 15 rated film or video?

At 15 drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for
example, through instructional detail).
The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances like aerosols or solvents is unlikely to be
acceptable at 15.

What about dangerous behaviour or things teens might copy?

We consider the risk of potential harm to impressionable teenagers. For example, dangerous behaviour such as
hanging, suicide and self-harming should not dwell on detail which could be copied.
Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context
and setting.