British Film Certificates

Capturing your target audience is the most important ingredient to success. A great way to generate an audience is to work with a certificate, depending on the genre and theme of a film, will determine which area the film lies in. Obviously, if it's a marvel comic film, the director will aim to capture all generations as most people nowadays have either grown up reading about their favourite super-heros, watching or currently learning about them. If it's a horror or thriller movie it will depend on how much violence, swear words, nude scene and drugs are involved which could potentially limit the audience figures.


Prior to 1912, there were no such rules that imposed certain groups of people to not be allowed to see a film. Local councils often enforced their own rules and regulations depending on the film and it's conditions or restrictions. Since then, The British Board of Film Classifications (BBFC) decide the UK film ratings but have have no actual legal power over. The councils decide who and who isn't allowed to see these films, but tend to follow the BBFC guide certificates. There have been exceptional cases where councils have lowered or raised the certificate for a film allowing the minimum age required to change. 


The very first certificates were given in 1912.

Symbol	Name	Definition/Notes
	Universal	Suitable for children
	Adult	Some councils ruled that children must be accompanied by an adult

A third was certified to alert parents to horror-themed material in 1932, which was then replaced by an X in 1951 by all councils which would allow ages 16 + to view the film.

Horror

Some councils ruled that only those aged 16 or over could be admitted

The certificates kept continually adapting, and new category logos in 2002 replaced the previous ones that had been in place since 1982

Symbol	Name	Definition/Notes
	Universal	All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.
	Parental Guidance	All ages admitted, but certain scenes may be unsuitable for young children. May contain mild language and sex/drugs references. May contain moderate violence if justified by context (e.g. fantasy).
	12A	Cinema only. Introduced in 2002. Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for very young people. Those aged under 12 years are only admitted if accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years, at all times during the motion picture. However, it is generally not recommended that children under 12 years should watch the film. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate swear words, infrequent strong language and moderate violence/sex references and nudity.
	12	Home media only since 2002. 12A-rated films are usually given a 12 certificate for the VHS/DVD version unless extra material has been added that requires a higher rating. Nobody younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game. Films in this category may include infrequent drugs, infrequent use of strong language, brief nudity, discreet sexual activity, and moderate violence.
	15	Only those over 15 years are admitted. Nobody younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, strong language and one use of very strong language, moderate-strong violence/sex references, and undetailed sex activity.
	18	Only adults are admitted. Nobody younger than 18 can rent or buy an 18-rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game, or watch a film in the cinema with this rating. Films under this category do not have limitation on the bad language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and strong violence/sex references along with strong sexual activity is also allowed. Scenes of strong real sex may be permitted if justified by the context.
	Restricted 18	Can only be shown at licensed adult cinemas or sold at licensed sex shops, and only to adults, those aged 18 or over. Films under this category are always hard-core pornography, defined as material intended for sexual stimulation and containing clear images of real sexual activity, strong fetish material, explicit animated images, or sight of certain acts such as triple simultaneous penetration and snowballing. There remains a range of material that is often cut from the R18 rating: strong images of injury in BDSM or spanking works, urolagnia, scenes suggesting incest even if staged, references to underage sex or childhood sexual development and aggressive behaviour such as hair-pulling or spitting on a performer are not permitted. More cuts are demanded in this category than any other category.

I wasn't even aware that only one use of very strong language was allowed in a 15.

This is something i need to be aware of when i am making future films and games i will always have to consider which is going to be my audience and like a brief, aim to link my material with with the right guidelines.

The Bourne Identity was the first 12a certificate.