Dear BBFC video distributor,

I am pleased to announce a new service to our video customers. Pre-Booking Express (PBE) is a fast-track classification system for video submissions which goes live on Tuesday 4 May 2010. It enables you to get a category decision within 24 hours of delivering the submission to us.

The home entertainment and online digital delivery sectors have indicated to us that it would be extremely useful if we could offer a specific service providing rapid turnaround for works which have a very short lead time. In general, such short lead times are planned rather than accidental: the distributor knows that the content will be ready on a particular date in the future but needs to get a classification outcome shortly after that date. But PBE will also help on those occasions where you require a last-minute urgent turnaround on a title. In either situation, therefore, we think that PBE will prove a very useful service.

PBE does attract a slightly higher fee than the norm, due to the higher administrative costs involved. The running time you supply us with at the booking stage will be rounded up to the nearest 15 mins. (or to 5 mins. for works with a running time of less than 5 mins.). This rounded up running time is referred to as ‘booked time’. The fee will be based on the booked time, and a rate of standard tariff + 10% will apply.

For the past few months we have been trialling PBE, and it has proved to be a success. We are therefore able to offer PBE to all video distributors from 4 May 2010.

FAQs:

Why does PBE cost more?

The increased fee reflects the additional work we do to ensure that your submission receives its category decision within the extra-fast timeframe. PBE utilises a workflow stream radically different than the standard process, and as it is the only classification process in which you will know in advance when you will receive your category decision, administrative costs are higher than for other submissions.

Why are certain types of submission not allowed?

We want to make sure, as far as possible, that every work submitted under the PBE service is passed within the published turnaround times. PBE submissions are fast-tracked at every stage of the process right up to the point we deliver the category decision and register number to you. This means that the category decision has to be straightforward. In order to minimise the risk to you of not receiving the category when you thought you would, we have issued guidance (see the attached documents) designed to help you determine whether your work would be suitable for the service.

Why would a PBE work be disqualified from the service while still in progress?

Until our Examiners have completed a viewing, we can never know whether a particular work will contain issues that make the category decision difficult to arrive at. If a submission has to drop out of the service, we will let you know as soon as this comes to light. The attached ‘guidance’ document gives full information on how such instances are handled. The vast majority of our submissions are passed without any issues whatsoever, so it is only a small percentage of works which we can’t handle under PBE.

I’d like to use PBE, but I see that you have to be on the extranet. How do I join?

Simply contact ithelpdesk@bbfc.co.uk and they will set things up for you.

If I don’t use the PBE service, will my submissions go through the BBFC more slowly than usual?

No. PBE submissions are viewed primarily by senior Examining staff, whose viewing hours typically operate outside those for standard submissions. One of our main objectives in the PBE trial was to develop a process that would also maintain the standard workflow and turnaround times for all other submissions, and we have achieved this.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Barrett

Head of Operations

dbarrett@bbfc.co.uk

+44 (0) 207 440 1583

I am writing to you with news of an improved service for the issuing of BBFC consumer advice (CA). As I’m sure you are aware, the BBFC provides CA for every theatrical feature, video feature and video game which receives a classification. In addition, we provide, on request, CA for any work which did not receive it at the time of submission (usually because it was submitted before we started it on a regular basis in 1997) as well as any combined CA required for multiple/box set releases.

Up to this point, we have processed requests for CA for old works/box sets twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays. In response to industry demand, we have now revised our process and are offering a next-day turnaround for these requests.

Therefore, from Monday 15 February 2010, if you get your request to us by 09:00, you will receive your completed CA back by the end of the next working day. You will no longer need to hit the twice-weekly deadline – you can send us requests any day of the week!

We will be running this service initially for a three-month period, after which we will let you know if we will be continuing with it.

Consumer advice appears on a very high proportion of DVDs and Blu-rays already, but with this greater flexibility, we hope that distributors will feel even more encouraged to display it on their product.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Barrett

Dear Film Distributor,

I am emailing you with clarification as to how best to submit works to us for a theatrical certificate. We are anxious to help you avoid unnecessary delays to the processing of your work or incurring cancellation fees for submissions that fail to turn up on time.

Our website bbfc.co.uk contains all the information on how to submit a film or trailer for a theatrical certificate. The full process is here:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/customer/cust_procFilm.php

Please note in particular the following:

1. From 2 November 2009, all media items we receive must contain only and exactly the feature film, short film or trailer to be examined. If a media item submitted for a theatrical certificate contains other material, such as a trailer before the start or in the middle of a film, we will put the work on hold and require you to submit replacement media items. This will incur a second handling charge and a further viewing charge.
2. We require the media item(s), the payment and the submission form to be delivered by the time stated. It is your responsibility to check with us that all materials have arrived on time; the BBFC will not contact you to remind you to deliver your materials to us by the deadline. If you fail to meet the delivery deadline for either the media item(s), the payment or the submission form, your submission will lose its place in the schedule, which can result in a cancellation fee.
3. KDMs and/or usernames for trailer links must be emailed to projection@bbfc.co.uk by 12pm on the working day before examination.
4. All media items submitted for theatrical certificates must be addressed to:Projection
   British Board of Film Classification
   3 Soho Square
   London
   W1D 3HD

   Please either send in the submission form with the media items or fax it to us on 020 7440 0291.

5. We would like to reiterate that for advice viewings we accept all playable formats, on the basis that the service is designed to be used for works-in-progress.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Barrett

In light of experience over the past months, we have reviewed the requirements relating to the submission of works containing the facility for ‘seamless branching’ and have concluded that a slight relaxation is possible..

The detail is set out below but the headline is that if the standard feature has already been classified, or is merely awaiting packaging approval, there is no longer any need to include it in a single submission along with the stand alone elements and the feature with all elements ‘branched in’. In future, provided the standard feature has been classified, or is merely awaiting packaging approval, a single certificate will cover all the video works created by a seamless branching facility provided a single submission, with the appropriate box ticked, includes (a) the feature with all elements ‘branched in’, and (b) all the elements as stand-alone items.

For those who have tended to submit the feature separately and in advance of the seamless branching elements, this should result in significant cost savings.

If you have any queries about this, please contact the Technical department on etechnical@bbfc.co.uk or on the helpline (020 7440 0299).

Policy

If video works created through use of seamless branching (including alternative endings) are to be covered by the relevant video certificates then the effect of including them within the feature, as well as the effect of viewing them as ‘stand-alone’ items, must be considered during the process of determining the suitability of the work for classification, or for classification at a particular category.

A video certificate will cover all the possible combinations offered by ‘seamless branching’ facilities (including ‘alternative ending’ functions) providing that a single submission has included:

1. the feature with no additional material added (unless it has already been classified or is merely awaiting packaging approval)
2. the additional material as stand-alone items (unless the retail disc will not allow any of the additional material to be viewed as a stand-alone item)
3. the feature with all additional material branched into the feature (excluding alternative endings, provided these can be viewed as stand-alone items)

The elements can be submitted on:

• separate discs forming a single submission, or
• a single disc which allows the material to be accessed as required in 1, 2 and 3

The relevant box on the submission form (‘Seamless branching’) must be ticked.

The BBFC will view and charge for: the feature with no additional material added (unless it has already been classified or is merely awaiting packaging approval); the additional material as stand-alone items (unless the retail disc will not allow any of the additional material to be viewed as a stand alone item); the feature with all additional material branched into the feature (excluding alternative endings, provided these can be viewed as stand-alone items).

Exception

If the retail disc will only allow the additional material to be branched into the feature in a single, fixed combination, the ‘contains additional material’ version so created can be submitted independently of, and without regard to, either the ‘standard feature’ or the additional material as ‘stand-alone’ items (i.e. requirements 1 and 2 are waived).

In such circumstances, classification can proceed even if the ‘standard’ feature has not been classified (but the certificate awarded will not cover the ‘standard’ feature). It is the responsibility of the distributor to ensure that the standard feature is classified separately. The same applies to any ‘additional material’ that can be viewed as a ‘stand-alone’ item.

Dear Sir/Madam,

On October 28th 2008 I issued a mailshot clarifying how film works should be submitted to the BBFC. Following feedback from the industry, I am pleased to inform our film customers of a further submission route available for digital film trailers only.

From Monday 23rd February 2009, digital film trailers may be made available for the BBFC to download from an FTP (file transfer protocol) server. The trailer link, along with the KDM, must be provided to projection@bbfc.co.uk by 12pm the day before examination. Customers should continue to contact the Information Services team when booking the examination slot in our theatre.

This new submission route does not apply to film features due to their file size.

I hope customers find this service improvement useful and please contact me should you have any questions.

Yours faithfully,

Dave Barrett

Head of Operations

On 24 September we informed the Board’s film customers that we can accept digital submissions; this now extends to digital 3D also.

BBFC policy has always been that we view features and trailers in their final form in the format for public exhibition. Having relaxed this policy during the period in which the Board did not have its own digital facility, with our recent installation now fully operational we would like to clarify the position relating to theatrical works. From Monday 17 November 2008, films and trailers for theatrical classification must be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Films and trailers which are only being shown in cinemas on DVD or other video mediums such as BetaSP and DigiBeta must be submitted to us on a DVD struck from the theatrical master. We will view them in our theatre via our DVD projector.
• Films and trailers for any other type of digital exhibition must be submitted on either a USB hard drive or a USB memory stick struck from the theatrical master. We will project them using our digital projection facilities.
• Films and trailers being released both digitally and on 35mm in the same screen ratio can be submitted in either format.
• Films and trailers being released only on 35mm should continue to be submitted on 35mm

Please note 3D film releases must be submitted and classified in 3D. Any work being released in both 2D and 3D will require separate submissions due to the formats having the potential to raise differing classification issues.

In response to customer demand; from 13th October 2008, the BBFC will provide the film ‘black card’ electronically.

Customers will benefit from increased efficiency as the image will be available almost instantly following category approval. Additionally, with the image being emailed, your transportation costs will be much reduced.

The images will be generated at a resolution similar to that of Digital Cinema 4K to ensure excellent display quality. The image format will be Portable Network Graphic (PNG) to keep the file size manageable without losing any quality during compression.

The electronic card will be the default delivery of the image unless otherwise indicated by the customer via ticking a box on the submission form (see attached). Ticking the box indicates the need for a paper version. However, please be aware that the BBFC is looking to phase the physical card out by July 1st 2009 and customers should start making provisions to receive the card electronically by that time. I should be grateful if you can raise any concerns at this point so that we are able to work on providing a solution at the earliest opportunity.

Please use the below new film submission from today.

[drain file show 46 wide]

In testing we are grateful to Screen Opticals and Arts Alliance Media for their valuable input.

In response to growing industry demand, the BBFC is very pleased to announce that from the 1st August 2008 we will accept digital film submissions. Additionally, in the next couple of months, we aim to have 3D capability.

Below are a number of questions and answers that should help guide the Board’s film customers with our digital requirements.

How can I submit digital material to the BBFC?

Customers will be able to submit their digital films in any of the following ways;

a: USB Hard Drive
b: USB Memory Stick

What DCI equipment is the BBFC using?

Barco DP 1500 Dolby Show Dolby Show Store ACS 2048

What time frame do I need to allow to submit a digital work?

For works submitted on a USB hard drive or USB memory stick, the BBFC requires submission by 12pm the day before examination to allow time for full server ingest.

Do I need to supply a digital key?

Yes please, each feature requires a unique KDM key which can emailed to projection@bbfc.co.uk. Please ensure the key is valid on the day of examination between 8am and 7pm.

Additional questions;

We are releasing on 35mm and digital – do we require separate classifications?

No, if it is the same work in the same ratio, albeit a slightly clearer image, there is no need for two classifications.

We are releasing in 2D and 3D – do we require separate classifications?

Yes, the 3D version offers up a different experience to the viewer which may raise differing classification issues.

Can I still submit 35mm film?

Yes, the BBFC will continue to accept 35mm for the foreseeable future.

We hope this clarifies the Board’s position but should you have any queries please email us, or contact the Board’s Projection team on 020 7440 1590/1591.

We look forward to the industry making use of this new BBFC service and to receiving your digital submissions.

The Board recently contacted its customers with details of various major service improvements, which were brought in alongside the newly designed DVD submission form for video features and trailers. In order to ensure that your work is being processed as you intend, the Board will place a submission on hold if it has any queries regarding the way the form has been filled in. In particular, your attention is drawn to the text on page 2, which requires you to tick either the ‘Classify all elements on disc’ box or the ‘Ignore unlisted elements’ box, and then to list the relevant elements. If you tick both boxes, or neither box, it will delay the processing of your work while we seek clarification from you. (If your submission only contains one element, page 2 is irrelevant and need not be included with your submission.)

Improved Extranet and Website title displays

In response to feedback from customers that it would be handy for multiple works with the same title (e.g. episodes of TV series) to be displayed with additional information appearing next to the title, we have introduced a feature on the extranet and on our main website whereby such information appears in square brackets immediately after the title of the work. We had indicated in a previous notice that we would introduce this by 1 May, and you may have noticed the change over the past few days; we hope you are finding it useful. To help us to deliver this information to you, we have included ‘Alternative title/Episode title’, ‘Series No.’ and ‘Episode No.’ fields on the newly designed form and the information you enter in these fields will inform what we include within the square brackets. Please note that information within the square brackets does not form part of the classified title and therefore should not be used as part of the unique title on the disc art to satisfy the labelling regulations.

Ignore Unlisted Elements

If only certain elements on a submitted disc require classification they must be easily accessible, preferably through a menu. Such elements must be stand-alone, distinct items (e.g. ‘making of’ documentaries or deleted scenes). If it is not practicable to access the required element easily (e.g. if it is necessary to fast-forward through unlisted elements to reach the listed element) replacement copies will be required before a work can be processed. Additional viewing time will be added to works to allow examiners to navigate past elements such as logos and menus in order to reach the specified footage. Works will be invoiced as usual based on this viewing time.

If you have a query on any of these matters, please do not hesitate to contact helpline@bbfc.co.uk or technical@bbfc.co.uk in the first instance.

Following fresh legal advice and consultation with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the BBFC is happy to be able to introduce new flexibility with regard to previously classified video works.

In the past, any new video submission which was identical to a previously classified video work could only be classified at the existing category. This led to works being classified at categories which were no longer appropriate under current guidelines. It also meant that distributors had to artificially add or subtract material in order to ‘work around’ the restriction. This was not in the interests of the industry, the public or the BBFC.

Distributors wishing to rely on an existing classification will still be able to choose to make use of our ‘Distributor Change’ or ‘Technical Comparison’ services but from 14th April 2008 all new video submissions will be viewed and classified according to current guidelines and policy, unless the ‘Distributor Change’ or ‘Technical Comparison’ box on the submission form has been ticked and the technical comparison confirms that the work can be processed as such.

All viewed works are charged at the fee set in the video tariff (currently £75 per submission plus £6 per minute of running time)

The BBFC is pleased to announce four major improvements to our service: acceptance of submissions on Blu-ray; customer selection of elements to be classified; classification of all works created by seamless branching; and improved extranet and website title displays. These improvements have required various changes to the submission form, a new version of which is attached.

1. Submissions now accepted on Blu-ray (with immediate effect)

With immediate effect, the BBFC will accept submissions made on Blu-ray discs. See attached submission criteria for full details;

Can I still submit simple linear material on standard DVD for release on Blu-ray?

Yes – you only have to use Blu-ray for material which will only play in that format

Can I still submit rough versions of picture in picture commentaries?

No- this was only a temporary ‘work around’ solution. Such material must now be submitted in final form

My Blu-ray disc includes interactive content, is it a DVD submission or a digital media submission?

A submission will be treated as ‘Digital Media’ if it has content which has more interactivity than is provided by a DVD menu, or if it requires a particular games console (eg PS3 ) or a PC in order to run.

2. Customer selection of elements to be classified (with immediate effect)

Until now, the BBFC has insisted on classifying everything on the submitted disc. With immediate effect, the submitting company can request that only named elements are considered for classification.

A new submission form has been introduced to facilitate this change and is attached.

How do I take advantage of this?
In order to take advantage of this facility the relevant box on the submission form must be ticked, the elements must be clearly identified on the form, the elements must clearly be ‘stand alone’ items, and the elements must be able to be accessed separately

Will there be any charge for the other elements on the disc?
No – unlisted elements will be completely ignored. They will not be charged for and will not be included in the classification.

Can I submit a finished Blu-ray disc and just get a classification for the Blu-ray specific features?
Yes – if you already have a classification for the main feature and other standard linear elements you can use this facility to get the Blu-ray specific elements classified without paying again for the other linear elements

3. Seamless branching (with immediate effect)

Legal advice has confirmed that the facility whereby the feature can be played with additional material (eg ‘deleted scenes’) edited in, including the facility to play a feature with the original ending replaced by an alternative ending, creates new video works (see section 22(3) of the Video Recordings Act).

If the new video works created by use of the facility were not taken into account when issuing the relevant video certificate(s) to the feature and to the additional material, the new video works do not form part of the classified work. In such circumstances, supplying the relevant video recording would be in breach of the VRA.

With immediate effect, the BBFC has therefore introduced a process which allows the industry to protect itself from prosecution over the supply of unclassified video works produced by ‘seamless branching’.

Future video certificates will cover all the possible combinations offered by ‘seamless branching’ facilities (including ‘alternative ending’ functions) providing that a single submission has included:

1. the feature with no additional material added
2. the additional material as stand alone items
3. the feature with all additional material (excluding alternative endings) branched into the feature

The elements can be submitted on:

1. separate discs forming a single submission; or.
2. a single disc which allows the material to be accessed as required in (a), (b) and (c)

The relevant box on the submission form (‘Seamless branching’) must be ticked.

The BBFC will view (and charge for): the feature with no additional material added ; the additional material as stand alone items; the feature with all additional material (excluding alternative endings) branched into the feature.

The video certificate will record that the determination has taken account of the video works created by means of the seamless branching facility (including the ‘alternative ending’ function).

4. Improved Extranet and Website title displays (from 1st May 2008)

For legal reasons, the official title of a classified work must match the title onscreen. This can create difficulties for both the industry and for the public when trying to identify a particular work from a list of works on the extranet or on the website with the same title. This problem is most acute in relation to TV series which do not have an episode title or number displayed onscreen.

In most cases additional identifying information (eg series number, episode number, episode title, ‘director’s cut’, ‘audio commentary version’) has been recorded by the BBFC, usually on the basis of information provided by the distributor at time of submission. From 1st May 2008 this information will be displayed in the following places:

	Extranet - list views
	Extranet -  individual work views
	Main website - search results
	Main website -  individual work view
	BBFC.online white card
	BBFC.online black card

Will this only apply to new submissions?
No – for most historic works this information is already on file and will be displayed from May 1st 2008

How can I ensure that the information I want displayed is used?
Just make sure that the information is included on the submission form. The redesigned form now invites you to include details such as episode and series numbers, and episode titles.

If you have any queries please contact the Customer Helpline by telephone (020 7440 0299) or email (helpline@bbfc.co.uk).

The BBFC requested DVD only submissions from its customers in July 2007. Since then the intake is now 99%+ DVD and we would like to thank the industry for their exceptional response in making this happen.

There has been one or two small cases we have accepted VHS but from January 1st 2008 this will cease. Any VHS submissions will receive a standard letter requesting a DVD replacement.

Please email me if this presents a problem to you.

Our last day of business for 2007 will be December 24th (Christmas Eve) when we will close at 4.30pm. We will re-open on Wednesday January 2nd 2008.