In 2012 the BBFC celebrated its 100th year with a number of events.

These included a series of 'retro' BBFC black cards shown before all UK cinema releases, a number of events across the UK, including a film season at the BFI in London and a new book looking behind the scenes at the BBFC over the past 100 years.

BBFC Centenary Film Season

To mark the centenary of the BBFC, BFI Southbank presented a season of films which were either banned or censored in the last century of cinema. The season was curated by film critic Mark Kermode and Professor in Film Studies at Southampton University Linda Ruth Williams. Above you can watch the trailer created to promote ‘Uncut’, the BBFC centenary film season that took place at BFI Southbank in London during November 2012.

BBFC Centenary Black Cards

From January 2012 until the end of the year, cinema-goers across the UK saw updated versions of vintage theatrical black cards ahead of all 2012 releases. The six retro designs, based on those used in 1913, the 1940s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and the present day, were released as a series, with each design appearing for two months at a time. 

BBFC Centenary Book

The BBFC centenary book, Behind the Scenes at the BBFC: Film Classification from the Silver Screen to the Digital Age, traces the fascinating history of film classification, censorship and controversy in Britain, and marks an unparalleled collaboration between the BBFC and leading film critics, historians and cultural commentators.

Behind the Scenes at the BBFC: Film Classification from the Silver Screen to the Digital Age was published by BFI Publishing on 23 November 2012, priced £16.99.

The book is available to buy from a number of retailers including Sainsbury's, Amazon UK, Waterstones and Palgrave.