BBFC guideline continued

Discrimination
Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be
endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive
discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely
to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs
Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should
not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
Horror
Moderate physical and psychological threat may be
permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not
frequent or sustained.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and
self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be
copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible
weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong
language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.
Nudity
Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief
and discreet.
Sex
Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed.
Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for
young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely
to be acceptable.
Theme
Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must
be suitable for young teenagers.
Violence
Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on
detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood,
but occasional gory moments may be permitted if
justified by the context.
Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and
discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual
justification.

15 –
Suitable only for 15 years
and over
No one younger than 15 may
see a ‘15’ film in a cinema.
No one younger than 15 may
rent or buy a ‘15’ rated
video work.

Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory
language or behaviour.
Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not
promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily
accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,
aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic
or sexualised.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and
self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be
copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example,
‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be
acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated
use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without
strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a
non-sexual or educational context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail.
There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour,
but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable
unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is
sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is
appropriate for 15 year olds.
Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction
of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to
be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also
unlikely to be acceptable.
There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence
but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and
have a strong contextual justification.

Suitable only for adults
No-one younger than 18 may
see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
No-one younger than 18 may
rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public
consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the
BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override
the principle that adults should be free to choose their
own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the
following areas:
• where the material is in breach of the criminal law,
or has been created through the commission of a
criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to
risk 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 or sexualised
violence which might, for example, eroticise or
endorse sexual assault
• 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.
In the case of video works (including video games),
which may be more accessible to younger viewers,
intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Sex education at ‘18’
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and
educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer
sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may
be permitted.
Sex works at ‘18’
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual
arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material
which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex
works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish
material, sexually explicit animated images, or other
very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’
category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work
at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

R18 - To be shown only in
specially licensed cinemas,
or supplied only in licensed sex
shops, and to adults of not less
than 18 years
The ‘R18’ category is a
special and legally restricted
classification primarily for
explicit works of consenting
sex or strong fetish material
involving adults. Films may
only be shown to adults in
specially licensed cinemas,
and video works may be
supplied to adults only in
licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video
works may not be supplied by
mail order.

The following content is not acceptable:
• any material which is in breach of the criminal law,
including material judged to be obscene under the
current interpretation of the Obscene Publications
Act 1959
• material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an
interest in sexually abusive activity (for example,
paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults
role-playing as non-adults
• the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves
lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form
of physical restraint which prevents participants from
indicating a withdrawal of consent
• the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting
physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context)
simulated. Some allowance may be made for
moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
• penetration by any object associated with violence
or likely to cause physical harm
• any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does
not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing
game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if
consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.
These Guidelines will be applied to the same
standard regardless of sexual orientation.

Intervention
Where possible, the BBFC deals
with any issues raised in a submitted
work through classification at the
appropriate category. In some cases,
however, assurances, cuts or other
changes (for example, the addition
of warning captions) will be required
as a condition of classification, or
as a condition of classification at
a particular category. In some
circumstances a work may be
rejected, ie refused a classification
at any category. The General Principles
under which such decisions are made
are set out on page 4. Details of
interventions are published on the
main BBFC website.
Cuts for category
If the submitted work is suitable for
classification, but only at a category
higher than that requested by the
submitting company, the BBFC will
consider whether a lower category
could be achieved through relatively
minor or simple changes. If so, the
BBFC may offer the submitting
company a choice of accepting the
higher category or making defined
changes to achieve a lower category.
The decision to offer such ‘cuts for
category’ is at the discretion of the
BBFC and this option is unlikely to be
available if the required changes
would be extensive or complex, or if
the effect of possible changes would
be difficult to predict. In such
circumstances, the submitting
company may choose to make a new
submission of a different version of the work at a later date.

Compulsory cuts
If a submitted work raises issues or
concerns that cannot be addressed by
classification at a particular category,
cuts or other changes may be required
as a condition of classification. Such
intervention is most likely with
regard to the following:
• material which may promote
illegal activity
• material which is obscene or
otherwise illegal
• material created by means of the
commission of a criminal offence
• portrayals of children in a
sexualised or abusive context
• sexual violence or sexualised
violence which endorses or
eroticises the behaviour
• sadistic violence or torture which
invites the viewer to identify with
the perpetrator in a way which
raises a risk of harm
• graphic images of real injury,
violence or death presented in a
salacious or sensationalist manner
which risks harm by encouraging
callous or sadistic attitudes
• sex works which contain material
listed as unacceptable at ‘R18’.
When the issue relates to the
circumstances of filming (for
example, in relation to animal cruelty
or public indecency) the submitting
company will normally be given an
opportunity to present evidence
before a final decision is reached.
Rejects
If a central concept of the work is
unacceptable (for example, a sex
work with a rape theme); or if
intervention in any of the ways
noted above is not acceptable to
the submitting company; or if the
changes required would be extensive
or complex; the work may be
rejected, ie refused a classification
at any category.