BBFC Podcast

What do Trolls World Tour, Bloodshot and The Invisible Man have in common? They’ve all been released to streaming services early so that you can watch them from the comfort of your own home during lockdown. Want to know more? Listen to this podcast, which takes you through some of these releases and gives you all of the classification knowledge you need, so you can sit and watch them either by yourself or with your family.

To mark our 100th podcast, we have teamed up with film critic, journalist and host of BBC’s Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, Mark Kermode, for a very special episode. So sit back and enjoy an open discussion between Mark and the BBFC’s Head of Compliance, Craig Lapper - as they delve into Mark’s relationship with film classification and discuss how the BBFC has changed over the years. The two also discuss the classification decisions for recent film releases such as Jojo Rabbit (2019) and 1917 (2019), alongside historic decisions of Mark’s favourite horror films including The Exorcist (1973) and The Last House on the Left (1972).

Teachers, are you looking forward to your last week of term? Together with our friends at Into Film, we've produced a podcast and some lesson plans with some ideas about how you can watch the beloved festive tale A Christmas Carol with your class. Whether you're a fan of Scrooge (1951), the Muppet's Christmas Carol (1992), or Jim Carey's A Christmas Carol (2009) we talk about the classification and history of each film, and give you some discussion points and lesson ideas. http://www.cbbfc.co.uk/grown-ups/christmas-carol-worksheets

Explore the history of the 18 certificate and its key classification issues. Learn about the evolution of film classification in the UK, the decision to give Quentin Tarantino's film an 18 rating, and the classification of Fifty Shades of Grey. Discover the classification history of Midnight Cowboy, the first X-rated film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Explore the evolution of the 15 age rating and its impact on films. Discover the rise of 15-rated superhero films and the reasons behind it. Delve into the transition from the A rating to 15 and its implications. Compare the horror films Poltergeist and Hereditary. Learn about the classification of horror films and the role of fantastical elements.

Explore the introduction and evolution of the 12A/12 film rating in the UK and its significance in bridging the gap between PG and 15 ratings. Delve into the rating system for fantastical films and the different perceptions of violence. Discover how James Bond and children's ability to distinguish fantasy from reality impact classification issues. Understand the importance of context in film classification and how it influences rating decisions and portrayal of sensitive subjects.

Join us as we discuss the PG category and how parents can navigate PG films. We explore the complexity of PG-rated films and give examples. We also discuss the classification process of Maleficent Mistress of Evil and designing a certificate for Melissa and Mr. Sfeibel. The show 'Horrible Histories' and its challenges in depicting violence. Lastly, we analyze how emotion is taken into consideration in PG films.

Exploring the history of the U category and how it has evolved over the years. Reclassification of older films and the impact of published classification guidelines. Challenges in classifying children's films and remakes of U-rated films. Discussion on emotional climax and portrayal of threat in movies, highlighting the popularity of U-rated movies.

'I'll have what she's having' Rom Coms have given us some of the most memorable lines in cinematic history over the years. Whats your favourite? This podcast, we discuss some of the greats - When Harry Met Sally, Notting Hill and It Happened One Night - and give you some insight into the classifications of each film.

With exam season upon us, we have released a podcast to support students, teachers and parents in the lead up to this years media studies exams.