Home » 2012

Using the BBFCs Centenary as a platform for debate, the BBFC is expanding its media literacy and education programme during 2012

May 16th, 2012

Using the BBFCs Centenary as a platform for debate, the BBFC is expanding its media literacy and education programme during 2012.  In addition to the BBFC’s well established programme of school, college and university seminars, the BBFC is working with film industry and education partners to produce additional workshops and exhibitions that use the BBFC’s legacy and history as a springboard for discussing contemporary classification. Designed to educate consumers about how classification works and ways they can make informed viewing choices the roster of new events look to the future as well as the past.

The BBFC places a strong emphasis on creating an integrated media education policy taking into account not only cinema and DVD but also how parents and children can navigate online film content. A series of 22 events to be held in partnership with Picturehouse Cinemas across the UK and further events and exhibitions at the BFI South Bank and Westminster University in London are designed to give both parents and children further exposure to the BBFC’s work past and present, as well as open up debate about the future of film classification.

The BBFC is also empowering young people through BBFC initiatives and supporting those run by other organisations. Earlier this year the BBFC challenged young people to redesign the BBFC theatrical black card to reflect what they enjoy about cinema and film. A winner, to be selected in late Spring, will see their card shown ahead of a children’s film in cinemas over the summer months. The BBFC also supports the Childnet Film Challenge by classifying each shortlisted entry and providing classification certificates for the winners and runners up. The annual competition challenges young people to make a film about a specific theme relating to positive and inspiring uses of the internet and is open to school groups and individuals.

BBFC Director David Cooke brings to life the BBFC’s education work in a blog post for the Huffington Post, where he describes how the BBFC must continue to ensure real and regular contact with the groups the BBFC are working hardest to inform and protect: children, their parents and others, like teachers, who make a call on what they and their charges can watch.

Read the article in full at Huffington Post UK

Xbox LIVE Zune video marketplace adopts BBFC age-ratings

May 14th, 2012

Xbox LIVE will use the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)’s well-known ratings for content sold via the Xbox LIVE Zune video marketplace, allowing users to make informed choices about the content that they purchase for themselves and their families.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC, says ‘We’re delighted to add Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE to the roster of customers using BBFC services. In the digital age the variety of content platforms available means that, more than ever, the BBFC has a role to play as a trusted guide to content. The public, especially parents, have told us it’s important for them to see classification ratings they can trust before choosing entertainment for themselves or their children and by joining the BBFC’s voluntary service Xbox LIVE is helping its users make informed and confident choices about what they watch.’

‘Microsoft’s goal has always been to provide parents and caregivers with the tools and resources necessary in managing age-appropriate entertainment experiences on Xbox 360 for children,’ says Stephen McGill, Microsoft Ltd’s Director of Xbox and Entertainment. ‘Alongside use of the forthcoming PEGI ratings system for video games, deploying BBFC classifications for film and video content on Xbox LIVE will allow parents to make more informed choices regarding what they and their families watch on our service.’

The BBFC’s service for streamed and downloaded content was launched in 2008 to provide its trusted and recognised classifications, category symbols and Consumer Advice to set-top box, video-on-demand and other online content providers. The BBFC worked closely with the home entertainment industry to develop a voluntary regulatory service that would bring the benefits of the DVD classification system to content delivered online. When the public was surveyed about the new service, 82% of parents said that they preferred to download films that were classified with the trusted BBFC symbols and content advice. Government ministers and other Parliamentarians are on the record as supporters of the BBFC’s work in this area.

Microsoft Ltd joins other key affiliates to the BBFC service including Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Europe, Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Universal, BT Vision, Tesco/Blinkbox, TalkTalk, Picturebox and Netflix, bringing the total number of members to 38.

END

Press Enquiries: Catherine Anderson: canderson@bbfc.co.uk
Press office: 0207 440 3285           

Out of Hours Mobile: 07946 423719

Notes to editors
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, private, not for profit company which classifies films, videos, DVDs and certain video games, advertisements and trailers.  The BBFC operates transparent, well-understood and trusted co-regulatory and self regulatory classification regimes based on years of expertise and published Guidelines which reflect public opinion and the risk of harm; and is accountable to Parliament.

BBFC wins 2012 BVA Special Award

May 4th, 2012

The BBFC has been awarded the 2012 British Video Association (BVA) Special Award. BVA Director General Lavinia Carey explains why the BBFC should be recognised on its 100th anniversary.

2012 BVA Special Award – BBFC

In 1984, when the BBFC was 72 years old and the BVA was just four, it made a significant change to its name, replacing “Film Censors” with “Film Classification”, that indicated the beginning of the end of a peculiarly British tendency to want to protect people from themselves by strictly controlling their entertainment and ensuring films screened in cinemas were sufficiently wholesome for public viewing.

This name change took place during the long “reign” of James Ferman as Director, while Lord Harlech was the BBFC’s President, succeeded the year after by the Earl of Harewood.

By the time I joined the BVA in 1993, the video industry had gone through a tumultuous period of adjusting to the introduction of statutory regulation through the BBFC with the passing of the 1984 Video Recordings Act, which must have seemed at the time like a step backwards after an apparent era of enlightenment.  Yet this was a cloud with a silver lining.  It heralded the development of the most strictly regulated video industry in the free world but one which provided a defence against future storms to come.

The moral panic whipped up by the media in 1994 and the hand-wringing within our sector, having been accused of stimulating violence among young people, required the BVA and BBFC, and supported by the Video Standards Council, to work more closely to explain to politicians, journalists and the public that our business could hardly be more severely regulated without banning many popular and acclaimed titles.

Amendments were made to the Video Recordings Act later in 1994 expressly to give the BBFC ultimate power to cut scenes or reject works entirely where they are found to fail the test of suitability for home viewing.  This modification was far less harsh than the draconian amendments proposed by the then Liberal MP David Alton.  It was accompanied by a collaborative solution to make BBFC classification decisions clearer to adults through the introduction of consumer advice on theme, language, sex and violence within the content printed on BVA members’ new releases.  This pilot was later rolled out on a voluntary basis across the entire video industry and remains in place today as an example of best practice in packaged media.

James Ferman ruled the roost.  Despite his zeal for authoritarian adherence to the spirit as well as the letter of the law, which intimidated some film and video distributors of the day, he had the wisdom to reach out to the public in a series of road-shows to consult with audiences and critics alike, resulting in more relaxed interpretation of the law that allowed the over 18s greater freedom to decide what they watched, while tightening up on the lower age ratings to give adults greater confidence in the classification system when making decisions about the suitability of titles they were buying and renting for children’s viewing.

With successive Directors, up to the present day with David Cooke at the helm, the BBFC has greatly increased its collaboration with the BVA and its members.  We enjoy unparalleled cooperation, with the BBFC-BVA working party, first set up in 1998, as a valuable sounding board for both sides to air ideas, concerns, solutions, news and views.  This has resulted over recent years in a much faster and more flexible classification process, plus many innovations, ranging from directors’ cuts, the distributors’ extranet for online submissions, the launch of the unique BBFC.Online system for voluntary classification of content as well as internet retailers and aggregators who make our content available to users, up-dated fee structures for its voluntary online classification scheme, 3D BD and for previously viewed works, to the findings of its 2011 customer survey which sought ways to improve its service to industry still further.

These initiatives, many proposed by the BBFC itself, have contributed to a sense of working in partnership – eons away from the rigid and remote regulator-versus-regulated relationship that existed 15 years ago.  Distributors trust the BBFC and the majority acknowledge that self-regulation in this country would not achieve the same public confidence that exists in our classification regime today.  Furthermore, industry recognises the value of the BBFC’s efforts to keep in touch with public opinion.  In recent years, it has developed tailored user-facing websites for children, students and parents, with educational resources and extended consumer advice which provides more detailed information about the content of age-restricted works and the explanation for the category given to individual titles.

The BBFC has employed an “outward-facing and commercially focused” approach to achieve the status of a modern, responsive organisation.  Its aim to stay ahead of the curve in our rapidly evolving industry by keeping up to date with the latest technology and through a positive working relationship with all its customers is applauded by BVA Members in the year of the BBFC’s 100th anniversary.

Lavinia Carey, Director General of the British Video Association (BVA)

Alton Towers Resort calls in the British Board of Film Classification to help classify new terrifying attraction with an age rating

March 19th, 2012

Following unprecedented feedback from a testing panel during its beta phase, Alton Towers Resort has been compelled to seek advice from esteemed film classification body the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), to help assess its new psychologically terrifying underground attraction, Nemesis Sub-Terra, which opens to the general public on 24th March 2012.

For the first time in history for a theme park attraction, the BBFC agreed to assess Nemesis

Sub-Terra, so that Alton Towers Resort could protect its younger visitors from the intense and disturbing effects of the new attraction and consider appropriate restrictions.

Now in its 100th year of operation, until now the BBFC has only rated content in the form of film releases, DVDs/Blu-Ray, digital downloads and video games. The BBFC considered carefully the feedback and unique nature of the attraction (which is neither a ride, performance nor a maze) and agreed to lend their advice.

Murray Perkins, Senior Examiner at the BBFC commented: “The BBFC is seeing a real blur of the old boundaries of visual content and physical experience in both 3D and 4D cinema, and at theme parks. Applying our experience of the public’s acceptability of moments of threat on screen, to more physical experiences, is something we have begun to do as cinema and other theatrical experiences evolve.

After experiencing the attraction first-hand, based on 100 years of experience and line with British public opinion, we would recommend that Alton Towers Resort classify the new Nemesis Sub-Terra a ‘12A’. The BBFC’s Guidelines at ’12A’/’12′ allow moderate physical and psychological threat, provided that the disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained. Nemesis Sub-Terra contains some intense moments, in some respects comparable with scary scenes which may be experienced in horror or science fiction films at ’12A’/’12′. But while some people will no doubt find this a frightening experience, the personnel monitoring the site are soon on hand to guide the public to safety.”

Katherine Duckworth from Alton Towers Resort commented, “The classification advice from the BBFC is important for the Resort to ensure the wellbeing of our guests. We are aware the enforcements that will now be implemented will mean that many of our younger visitors are unable to experience Nemesis Sub-Terra, which we are obviously concerned about. However, the Alton Towers Resort prides itself on offering a variety of rides for all ages and we hope that those under the age of 12 will continue to enjoy our other attractions.”

To ensure the new attraction was as terrifying as possible, Alton Towers Resort conducted some research during the development which revealed 75% of Brits have a phobia of being trapped underground and as many as 1 in 5 adults are still scared of the dark. Nemesis Sub-Terra plays heavily on both of these fears.

The Nemesis Sub-Terra attraction is unlike anything the world has seen before – a psychologically and physically thrilling experience, taking place in a dark, intense underground setting and based around the back-story of the original Nemesis attraction, launched in 1994. It takes guests into a restricted facility deep underground into a system of hidden caves. There is only one ‘chicken exit’ within the attraction – for people who can’t cope with the rest of it.

For more details on Alton Towers Resort and Nemesis Sub-Terra or to book tickets visit www.altontowers.com

- Ends -

For more information about Alton Towers or images please contact Ria Thomas at Cake Group on 020 7307 3174 (ria@cakegroup.com )

For more information about the BBFC contact Catherine Anderson canderson@bbfc.co.uk 0207 440 3285 (out of hours: 07946 423719).

Notes to Editors:

The survey commissioned by Alton Towers was carried out in February 2012 by market research experts www.onepoll.com and consisted of 2000 adults.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 87 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 46 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more almost 18,000 employees.  Among Merlin’s attractions are  – SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium.  All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, private, not for profit company which classifies films, videos, DVDs and certain video games, advertisements and trailers.  The BBFC operates transparent, well-understood and trusted co-regulatory and self regulatory classification regimes based on years of expertise and published Guidelines which reflect public opinion and the risk of harm; and is accountable to Parliament.

The BBFC agreed to experience Nemesis Sub-Terra at Alton Towers following a test of the attraction.

In advising on the advisory classification the BBFC shall classify the Nemesis Sub-Terra attraction on the same basis as if it were a film.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has passed VISIONS OF ECSTASY at 18 without cuts

January 31st, 2012

VISIONS OF ECSTASY is a 19 minute short film, featuring a sequence in which a figure representing St Teresa of Avila interacts sexually with a figure representing the crucified Christ. When the film was originally submitted to the BBFC in 1989, for video classification only, the Board refused to issue a classification certificate. This decision was taken on the grounds that the publication of the film, which the issue of a BBFC certificate would permit, might constitute an offence under the common law test of blasphemous libel.

The Board is required, as part of the terms of its designation under the Video Recordings Act 1984, to seek to avoid classifying any work that might infringe the criminal law. Therefore, the Board had no alternative at the time but to refuse a classification. The Board’s decision to refuse a classification to the film was subsequently upheld by the independent Video Appeals Committee.

In 2008, section 79 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act abolished the common law offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel. This means that the BBFC is no longer entitled to consider whether the publication of the film might comprise a blasphemous libel.

The BBFC has carefully considered VISIONS OF ECSTASY in terms of its current classification Guidelines. These reflect both the requirements of UK law and the wishes of the UK public, as expressed through regular large scale consultation exercises. With the abolition of the offence of blasphemy, the Board does not consider that the film is in breach of any other UK law that is currently in force. Nor does the Board regard the film as likely to cause harm to viewers in the terms envisioned by the Video Recordings Act.

The Board recognises that the content of the film may be deeply offensive to some viewers. However, the Board’s Guidelines reflect the clear view of the public that adults should have the right to choose their own viewing, provided that the material in question is neither illegal nor harmful. In the absence of any breach of UK law and the lack of any credible risk of harm, as opposed to mere offensiveness, the Board has no sustainable grounds on which to refuse a classification to VISIONS OF ECSTASY in 2012. Therefore the film has been classified for video release at ’18′ without cuts.

END

For more information contact Catherine Anderson canderson@bbfc.co.uk 0207 440 3285 (out of hours: 07946 423719).

Notes to editors

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, private, not for profit company which classifies films, videos, DVDs and certain video games, advertisements and trailers.  The BBFC operates transparent, well-understood and trusted co-regulatory and self regulatory classification regimes based on years of expertise and published Guidelines which reflect public opinion and the risk of harm; and is accountable to Parliament.

Rejection cases
Recent media reports have repeated the mistaken claim that the BBFC has only ever refused classification to 11 works. Over the Board’s entire 99 year history, the true figure is approaching 1,000 such decisions. Many of these decisions date from the early years of the Board. In more recent years, the Board has typically refused classification to 1-2 works a year.

BT Vision joins BBFC’s online film labelling service

January 3rd, 2012

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has added BT Vision to the roster of platforms that use the BBFC.online classification service.

From January 2012, BT Vision subscribers will see the same classification symbols and content information next to films as those the BBFC provides for cinema releases and DVDs. A BT Vision and BBFC co-branded electronic black card, similar to those UK cinemagoers see before theatrical releases, will also be run before each film begins.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC, said ‘We’re delighted to welcome BT Vision to our BBFC.online service. Parents have told us it’s important for them to see the classification symbols they recognise before they download or stream a film for family consumption. We asked parents for their views and 82% said they would prefer to download films that are classified with the trusted BBFC symbols and Consumer Advice.’

Jacob Ahlin, Head of Film said ‘BT Vision are delighted to become a member of the BBFC, enabling us to clearly label the hundreds of blockbuster and classic films, which are available on BT Vision and giving our customers peace of mind when choosing what to watch with their family.’

BBFC.online was launched in 2008 to provide the BBFC’s trusted and recognised classifications, category symbols and Consumer Advice to set-top box, video-on-demand and online content providers. The BBFC worked closely with the home entertainment industry to develop the voluntary regulatory service to bring the benefits of the DVD classification system to digital content that is delivered online.

BT Vision join other key industry members working with the BBFC including Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Europe, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount and platforms including BlinkBox, Picturebox and Talk Talk, bringing the total number of members to 34.

END

Press Enquiries: Catherine Anderson:      canderson@bbfc.co.uk
Press office:  0207 440 3285
Out of Hours Mobile:   07946 423719

 

Notes to Editors

1. The BBFC.online scheme includes console-style games which are supplied to the customer via download.

2. The research referred to is On-line Media Regulation carried out by Bernice Hardy in June 2011

3. The BBFC’s legal advice is that works supplied by ‘non-physical’ means (eg by streaming or download) are not covered by the Video Recordings Act 1984.

4. Membership of the Scheme is voluntary and by subscription and there is no cost to consumers.

5. BBFC.online is ‘Platform Neutral’ – it is designed to cover all forms of digital content delivery (eg web, set top boxes, hand-held devices and mobile phones).

6. BBFC.online complies with the self regulatory model advocated by ATVOD.

About BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, private, not for profit company which classifies films, videos, DVDs and certain video games, advertisements and trailers.  The BBFC operates transparent, well-understood and trusted co-regulatory and self regulatory classification regimes based on years of expertise and published Guidelines which reflect public opinion and the risk of harm; and is accountable to Parliament.