BBFCNisha Bhamra

Who are they?The British Board of Film Classification was brought about by members of the film industry in 1912, which allowed them the right to censor and certificate films rather than the government (though there are still links between the two.

The certification awarded depends on the amount of sex/nudity, violence, drug use and strong language included, which effectively prohibits minors of certain ages viewing the material in cinemas, or purchasing the DVD/Blu-Ray version of the film, depending on the certification.

Certifications

Universal – There is no unsuitable content for very young children, and can be viewed by anyone.

Parental Guidance – Viewable for all ages, may unsettle young children.

Previously ‘12’, the BBFC altered this to allow those under 12 to view the material when accompanied by an adult. 12A’s can include more mature themes, drug use, brief sexual references/nudity and occasional strong language.Only those aged 15 and over are allowed to view films with this certification, as they usually contain moderate adult themes, including drug use, strong language, sexual activity/nudity, and violence.

Only suitable for those aged 18 and over; there is usually no limit on the amount of strong language or violence presented, and there is often drug use and sexual activity.

There are currently five certifications the BBFC use;

Our Short FilmWe have decided that our film is best suited to a 12A certification,

due to the themes addressed in it; it includes the (implied) use of alcohol, mild violence and occasional strong language, which in context, reflect our main character’s state of mind, and we believe that these aspects are necessary in portraying this. Our protagonist, Eldon, reacts quite aggressively and dangerously in front of numerous teenagers within multiple scenes of the film, which may be unsuitable/slightly disturbing for young children to watch. Also, the recurring reference to alcohol abuse would be considered inappropriate to present to unaccompanied children, as would the strong language, despite it being infrequent.

We would consider our film appropriate for not only those aged 12-18, who would most likely be interested in it due to the setting (within a school environment, including teenagers with common problems), but also adults of all ages, as the themes presented are either relatable in some way, again presenting common problems, or have been seen second hand.

While various serious topics are included in our short film, the use of drugs/alcohol, violence and strong language are all fairly infrequent, and to a mild extent, therefore we would not consider Implosion to be a 15 rated film.