• The version submitted to the BBFC for examination must be the exact, finished version intended for release. (For works in progress and incomplete works, please see the ‘Advice Viewings’ section.)
• The 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 any 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.
• All media items (35mm reels, USB hard drives and memory sticks, DVDs etc.) must be labelled clearly. KDMs and/or usernames for trailer links must be emailed to projection@bbfc.co.uk by 12pm on the working day before examination.
• We require the media item(s), any KDM, 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.

Feature films, short films and trailers for theatrical classification must be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Films and trailers being released only on 35mm must be submitted on 35mm. The print, payment and submission form must arrive by 5pm on the working day before examination (unless other arrangements have been agreed with the Board at least two working days in advance).

• Films and trailers being released both digitally and on 35mm in the same version and the same aspect ratio can be submitted in either format. Delivery times are as noted above

• Films and trailers that are only being shown in cinemas on DVD or other video media such as BetaSP, DigiBeta and HDCam must be submitted to us on a DVD struck from the theatrical master. The DVD, payment and submission form must arrive at the Board by 5pm on the working day before examination.

• Films and trailers for any other type of digital exhibition must be submitted as a JPEG 2000 wrapped in a DCI-compliant interoperable 2K Digital Cinema Package (“DCP”). The DCP for features or short films must come in on a USB hard drive. Trailers can be submitted on a USB memory stick or on a disc. USB hard drives/memory sticks/discs, along with any KDM (key) and/or username needed to unlock/play them, as well as the payment and the submission form, must arrive by 12pm on the working day before examination.
• DCP 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 and/or username and anything else needed to access the site, as well as the payment and the submission form, must be emailed to projection@bbfc.co.uk by 12pm on the working day before examination. This new submission route does not apply to feature films and short films due to their file size.

• Please note that 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 different formats having the potential to raise differing classification issues.  There is a concessionary rate available for situations where the 3D version has already been classified.   Please see ‘Reduced classification fees for content-identical 2D versions of classified 3D (DCP or IMAX) works’ here for further details.
• IMAX film releases must be classified at an IMAX screen. The submission must be booked in with Information Services in the usual way. Any work being released in IMAX and any other theatrical format(s) will require separate submissions due to the different formats having the potential to raise differing classification issues.

Notes for the delivery of film prints

All reels should be delivered together, with each reel in a suitable container. The title and reel number should appear on each reel as well as on the container in which the reel is delivered.

All reel submissions should be 35mm combined optical prints, with sound types Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby SR analogue, Dolby “A” type and Mono.

All reels should have head and tail protection leaders with the title and the reel number on and they should be securely attached to the main body of the reel. All reels should have a plastic core in the centre.

Each reel is measured, usually from the first identifiable frame to the last. The number of reels supplied is checked along with the technical quality of the film. If any significant damage is found before viewing, the customer will be notified and the viewing may need to be postponed.

Return of prints/media items

After the classification process has taken place, the print/media items should be collected. Customers are advised to contact the Projection department on 020 7440 1570 or projection@bbfc.co.uk to check that the items are ready for collection. All collections must be signed for. The BBFC does not return prints or media items by post or any other means.

If you wish to retrieve media which has been submitted for advice, please contact archive@bbfc.co.uk with advance notice of collection so that we can prepare the media item(s) for you. Please also note that providing us with the specific title/version details when requesting the item(s) for return will enable us to retrieve your media more swiftly.

Uncollected prints/media items

Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the customer if any print or media item remains at the BBFC’s premises after a period of 90 days from the date of viewing. If the item has still not been collected after a further 90 days, the BBFC will dispose of the material.

Piracy

The BBFC is extremely concerned about this issue and has been accredited by FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft). When prints and media items are collected from the BBFC, we ensure the collector signs our release form. This will include date and time of collection. If we have any doubts about the authority to collect, we will investigate by asking the person present and/or the distributor’s office. If we are not satisfied then we will refuse to release the items until we are satisfied of the individual’s authority to collect them. Our exits are monitored by CCTV to assist us with tracking the removal of prints and media items from our premises.