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The BBFC is pleased to announce a new tariff for short films made by film students or by first time filmmakers affiliated to a recognised funding scheme. 

The BBFC is pleased to announce a new tariff for short films made by film students or by first time filmmakers affiliated to a recognised funding scheme. The student short film tariff aims to enable filmmakers creating short films of up to 40 minutes as part of educational studies or funding schemes, to receive a theatrical age rating for their film, at a reduced tariff.

The tariff was designed in response to a number of requests from student and first time film-makers wishing to submit their short film for classification for theatrical screenings.

David Cooke, Director, BBFC said: “We have seen an increase in the number of requests for short films, created as part of film studies or funding schemes, to be submitted for classification. We’re careful to advise students about seeking Local Authority permission to screen their short films in local cinemas, but many would like to receive an official classification and black card for their film. We hope by introducing a reduced tariff for these short films we can meet this demand and enable those studying film, or receiving funding to make films, to secure wider theatrical distribution for their work.”

The student short film tariff is available at £50+VAT for films of up to 20 minutes and £100+VAT for films of 20 to 40 minutes. The film can be either fiction or non-fiction, but cannot be a trailer, advert, music promo or similar and the film must have been created through a recognised funding scheme or training initiative, no more than two academic years prior to the date of submission to the BBFC. The full criteria for the BBFC student short film tariff, can be found on the BBFC website.

The new student short film tariff follows continuing work by the BBFC to reduce costs for all its customers. The BBFC is a non-profit organisation and fees have not risen for 6 years, while new concessions have also been introduced, including a 25% discount for identical video versions of classified films and a free of charge digital age rating for use online for any video, DVD or Blu-ray work classified.