AGE 15 INFORMATION
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 DVD. 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.
Is 15 really stronger than 12A?
Yes. 15 works are stronger than 12 or 12A rated works and could include any of the following:
- Strong violence
- Frequent strong language (eg 'f***').
- Portrayals of sexual activity
- 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 there 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 (eg f***).
Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms (eg 'c***'), although 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.
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 or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
Easily accessible weapons may not be glamorised.
What about horror works?
Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
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.
AGE 18 INFORMATION
What does the 18 symbol mean?
Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for children.
Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for children.
Are there any limits on what sort of
theme a work can have at 18?
No theme is prohibited at 18. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible some themes tackled at 18 may be offensive even to some adult viewers.
No theme is prohibited at 18. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible some themes tackled at 18 may be offensive even to some adult viewers.
- Frequent strong language (eg 'f***')
and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’)
- Strong portrayals of sexual activity
- Scenes of sexual violence
- Strong horror
- Strong blood and gore
- Real sex (in some circumstances)
- Discriminatory language and behaviour
- Strong portrayals of sexual activity
- Scenes of sexual violence
- Strong horror
- Strong blood and gore
- Real sex (in some circumstances)
- Discriminatory language and behaviour
How much strong language is there in
an 18?
There is no limit on the number of uses of strong (eg 'f***') or even very strong language (eg ‘c***’) which can be passed at 18. Uses could be aggressive, directed, frequent or accompanied by strong violence.
There is no limit on the number of uses of strong (eg 'f***') or even very strong language (eg ‘c***’) which can be passed at 18. Uses could be aggressive, directed, frequent or accompanied by strong violence.
What about discriminatory or
offensive terms?
There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language at 18, and the work could explore themes relating to this.
There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language at 18, and the work could explore themes relating to this.
Can there be strong violence?
Yes, at 18 violence can be strong and be portrayed with strong detail. There may even be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence.
The strongest gory images are permitted at this
category.Yes, at 18 violence can be strong and be portrayed with strong detail. There may even be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence.
What about horror works?
The strongest horror works are passed at 18, they may contain strong horror, gore or sustained threat and menace which exceeds the boundaries of 15.
The strongest horror works are passed at 18, they may contain strong horror, gore or sustained threat and menace which exceeds the boundaries of 15.
What about dangerous behaviour or
things teens or other viewers might copy?
Though 18 films and DVDs may cover difficult and strong subjects and themes, harm is still a consideration. Very dangerous or criminal behaviour (for example, behaviour which if copied poses a credible harm risk to viewers) may be cut.
Though 18 films and DVDs may cover difficult and strong subjects and themes, harm is still a consideration. Very dangerous or criminal behaviour (for example, behaviour which if copied poses a credible harm risk to viewers) may be cut.
If adults can watch what they want,
what might be cut from an 18 work?
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, the BBFC will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment.
However, cuts are occasionally made to 18 rated
films and DVDs. Intervention is most likely in the following areas:In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, the BBFC will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment.
- Where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created
through the commission of a criminal offence
- Where material risks harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual violence which might, for example, make rape look appealing
- Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in R18 works and, in ‘sex works’ (see below), would normally be confined to that category.
- Where material risks harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual violence which might, for example, make rape look appealing
- Where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in R18 works and, in ‘sex works’ (see below), would normally be confined to that category.
I have chosen to research these two age classifiactions as I believe my horror film will lie between age 12 or 15, this is because of the amount of horror/swaring etc that might not be suitable for younger children. Once I have filmed and edited my film I will then decide which classifiaction will be the most appropriate, as this will depend on the effectiveness of the footage and edits, which will determine how scary it will be at a final product.
All of the information on this page is from the British Board of Film Classification website, however I have pulled out the information which is useful for me and my product.
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