The issue of age-restricted product advertising eg alcohol, or service is not straightforward, and many such products are advertised to the general public via a variety of different media, including on TV, in newspapers and magazines and on billboards. Our Classification Guidelines allow alcohol adverts to be classified at any category provided there are no elements in the advert which would preclude a particular rating, for example, ‘bad’ language, violence, or overt attempts to associate alcohol with sexual prowess or a glamorous / successful lifestyle. A film ad can be shown alongside a feature film as long as it has not been classified higher than the category given to that feature.

Sometimes, the ‘sell’ of an advertisement is oblique enough not to be understood or to appeal to children or young teenagers. It should also be borne in mind that audiences for films rated lower than ‘18’ will contain adult viewers to whom the advertised product may be of interest and who may be able legally and appropriately to purchase them. This will also apply to other age restricted or appropriate products such as shaving items and cars. In addition to BBFC Guidelines, film advertisements are also obliged to comply with the relevant advertising code. This requires that ads for alcohol are not shown with a film which is likely to have an audience of which more than 25% is under the age of 18 years.

The BBFC is not responsible for the exhibition of cinema trailers and advertisements.

When the BBFC awards a film a ’15′ classification, this indicates that no one younger than 15 years can see the film in a cinema, even if accompanied by an adult or parental permission has been obtained.

The cinema will be violating the terms of its license (issued by the local authority) if it admits underage children to age-restricted films. Box office staff are within their rights to request proof of age of customers if they believe a child to be underage. Likewise, they can refuse to admit a customer if age cannot be proven, or ID is unsatisfactory. Cinemas can refuse to admit a 15 year old (or over) for ’15′-rated films without proof of age, despite reassurances from accompanying parents or guardians. Such caution is necessary as cinemas and their staff risk heavy fines or even loss of license if caught in breach of these conditions.

The responsibility for complying with license conditions rests solely with the cinema. It is outside the remit of the BBFC to advise on how these age restrictions are enforced by cinemas. They will be a matter of company policy, or made in accordance with license conditions or the requirements of the local authority. However, all cinemas will have terms of admittance, and parents and teenage viewers are advised to consult these.

Often these terms will identify what forms of ID are acceptable. They can be found on cinema websites, or should be available from the box office staff. Some cinemas and chains operate their own ID card system for teenagers and students. Some local authorities offer ‘proof of age’ cards for public transport which may be acceptable. Some cinemas operate teenage ‘film clubs’. Again, information will be available at the cinemas.

Trailers are classified as stand alone works. They are often submitted for classification months before the film is classified, so it is not possible to know the content or the category of the film. Examiners note the different issues (eg sex, violence, language) and the theme and tone of the trailer before making a recommendation.

Classification decisions may be more restrictive with regard to trailers and advertisements. This is because difficult content in such short works may have a greater impact on an unprepared audience.

A film trailer or advertisement can be shown alongside a feature film as long as it has not been classified higher than the category given to that feature. This is still the case if the film trailer is for a feature which has received a classification higher than the film it is being shown alongside. However, as trailers have shorter bursts of action it is possible that snippets from, say, a ‘15’ rated horror film may lack intensity in a short trailer and be containable at ‘12A’. Therefore, theoretically, a trailer for a ’18′ film, if classified ‘U’, could be shown alongside a ‘U’ rated film.

The BBFC is not responsible for the exhibition of cinema trailers. It is the responsibility of the cinemas to ensure that age-appropriate trailers are shown during screenings.

The BBFC would not recommend this, as the classification decision indicates that the film contains material unsuitable for children younger than the age specified. There are, however, some marginal cases where it might be considered appropriate to show a film in an educational context where it is properly discussed and presented. Schools should seek parental consent prior to the screening and we would recommend obtaining the approval of the head teacher and Governors. It is also important to make sure that any children watching the film are not likely to suffer any ill effects as a result.

The Video Recordings Act 1984 makes it illegal to supply any video or DVD within the UK which has not been classified by the BBFC, unless it is exempt. Although it is not a Customs offence to import an unclassified video or DVD, it must be for your personal use only and the content must not breach the prohibition on the importation of indecent and obscene material which reflects other UK laws (eg the Obscene Publications Acts 1959 and 1964, the Protection of Children Act 1978). You are therefore entitled to purchase unclassified videos/DVDs whilst abroad, provided they contain no illegal material and are solely for personal use.

The BBFC acts purely as a regulator and is therefore not able to assist with such enquiries.

Our website can only help you to identify whether a particular work has been classified by us. This does not necessarily mean that the work is still available for purchase or that it was ever released in the UK. If you are unable to find a particular work on our database, this may mean that it has never been classified in the UK. It may also be because the work was submitted to us under another title. In this case, a search based on director, cast or year of classification may help you to narrow down your enquiry.

No, we have no plans at all for making these ratings advisory. Neither of these categories is suitable for young children, accompanied or otherwise.

What does the ‘A’ in ‘12A’ stand for?
It stands for ‘accompanied’ and it also stands for ‘advisory’.

Has the ‘12A’ replaced the ‘12’ certificate?
Yes, for the cinema only. There are no plans to change the ‘12’ certificate for video/ DVD.

What does the ‘12A’ category mean in practice?
Children under the age of 12 will be able to see a ‘12A’ film at the cinema if they are accompanied by a person of 18 years or over. The adult must watch the film with the child or children and not just pay for the ticket.

Does this mean that very young children could see a ‘12A’ film?
Only if an accompanying adult accepts responsibility. The BBFC considers the content of a ‘12A’ film to be suitable for children of 12 and over. We would not recommend taking very young children to see ‘12A’ films, but parents or guardians must decide whether the film is suitable for their child or children.

So why don’t you simply set a minimum age limit eg 8 or 10 years old?
This has not generally been found necessary in other countries which have used the ‘12A’ system. We would prefer to rely upon the good judgement of parents, supported by clear Consumer Advice and the Extended Classification Information (ECI) available both on this website and pbbfc (add link), the website aimed specifically at parents.

Why not a ‘12A’ for videos/ DVDs as well?
It would make no useful difference to the present situation for videos/DVDs. The present video/DVD ‘12’ category means that you have to be 12 or over to rent or buy a ‘12’ video/DVD.

Why did you change the ‘12’ to a ‘12A’? Were you bowing to commercial pressure?
The initiative for the ‘12A’ was entirely the BBFC’s and was not asked for by the industry. The BBFC used to receive a steady stream of letters from parents of children under 12 asking why they could not make the decision about whether their child should see a ‘12’ rated film. We know the development and maturity of children varies considerably. The equivalent of a ‘12A’ is the norm in most of Europe and North America.

The BBFC provides Consumer Advice – a short sentence which lists the main issues that determined which category the work received. The advice for cinema films appears on advertising and in listings. In the case of video/DVDs or games, the Consumer Advice appears on the back of the packaging.

The BBFC produces detailed information about the content of every film and video game that we classify, which we call Extended Classification Information, or ECI.  This is in addition to the short sentence of Consumer Advice which appears on posters and advertising for films.  ECI is designed to explain in greater detail the issues, and in many cases the plot lines, which led to the film being given the classification it was.  As a result it may also contain plot spoilers, which is why you have to click on the link to open it.  Not everyone wants to see this information.

The ECI goes up on our site 10 days before the film opens.  Sometimes we classify films many weeks, or even months before they are due to open, which explains why not all films listed here will have a link to the ECI yet. If the ECI is available you will see the following symbol (add logo ) which you click on and this will open the ECI window for that film.

When a work is converted from 35mm film stock to DVD, the number of frames remains constant but the two versions run at different speeds.

Film is projected at 24 frames per second, but the DVD version is played at 25 frames per second. The difference is usually imperceptible to the eye. Over the course of a 90 minute feature the difference amounts to around four minutes, so identical works will have different run times.

There may be a variety of reasons.  Films are sometimes cut for length, to ensure that they can be fitted into the schedule.  Alternatively they may be cut so they can be shown at a particular time of the day.  The BBFC has no jurisdiction over the showing of films on television.  If you would like to comment about any films shown on television, you should contact either the broadcaster or Ofcom, the UK regulator for broadcast television.