Works submitted for classification under the Video Recordings Act 1984 should be submitted on DVD or Blu-ray disc. Please read through each of the following stages to familiarise yourself with the process.
Submission
In order to submit a DVD/Blu-ray to the BBFC please make an entry using the BBFC Extranet. You will be given a code number at the end of this process. Please write the code number on the disc and send it to:
BBFC
3 Soho Square
London
W1D 3HD
Extranet
The BBFC’s extranet allows customers to follow their work through the classification process, online. It also allows the customer to submit works for classification using the online submission service, accept classification decisions and view technical/examination information such as cuts lists. To obtain an extranet account please email ithelpdesk@bbfc.co.uk.
Technical issues relating to DVD and Blu-ray submissions
For full technical information on DVD and Blu-ray submissions please refer to the Technical information section of the website.
For any technical queries regarding DVD and Blu-ray submissions please contact the Technical Department on 0207 440 1592 or email etechnical@bbfc.co.uk.
Payment
A work will not be viewed until payment has been received. To find out how much your work will cost and how to make a payment please see our fees section or contact the Accounts department on 020 7440 0370/1 or email accounts@bbfc.co.uk.
Exempt Works under the Video Recordings Act
Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act 1984 it is the responsibility of the distributor to decide whether the work requires classification. For further information see Exempt Works.
Packaging
Any customer submitting a DVD/Blu-ray for classification is automatically entered into the Video Packaging Review Committee (VPRC) scheme; however, they may choose to opt out at any time. The committee approves the packaging of a work; the customer should ensure that they are able to submit three copies of the packaging in sufficient time to fit their release schedule. Customers wishing to opt out of the scheme should email helpline@bbfc.co.uk.
For customers that have opted out, each work will be classified as soon as the classification details have been accepted on the extranet or the ICF has been signed and returned; packaging need not be submitted.
Please refer to the packaging section for full details of how to submit your packaging.
Examination
The examiners apply the current BBFC Guidelines to propose the appropriate category for the work. The Guidelines are published on the website and are available on request.
Requesting a category
Specific category requests can be made on the submission form. The classification decision is reached following the BBFC Guidelines but, for example, if it is imperative that the work be awarded a ‘12’ category and it is assessed as ‘15’ the customer will be contacted to discuss the possibility of a second viewing of the work by senior examining staff or cuts to the work to reduce the category. This has the benefit to the customer of saving the time which would be involved in receiving a classification higher than required and having to repeat the submission process.
Cuts required
Most works are passed without any cuts and with little difficulty regarding the category. However, if the work does require cuts you will receive a letter which gives a summary of the cuts and then gives a detailed description of each cut that is required. See below for an example.
| At 108.5 mins | Example cut |
| Status | Cuts for Category |
| Ground | BBFC Guidelines |
| Issues | Sex/Nudity |
| Category with cut | 15 |
| Category without cut | 18 |
A summary of the cuts is published on the BBFC website once the work has been classified.
Works requiring cuts should be re-submitted with the required cuts made and all material that will feature on the release version present. For example, if cuts are required to the main feature but the submission also contains DVD extras then these should also be included alongside the edited version of the feature. This is because the BBFC is required to keep a copy of the classified work in our archive under the terms of the Video Recordings Act.
Approval
The formal authority for approval of works under the provisions of the Video Recordings Act rests with the President of the BBFC. This authority is delegated to the senior staff of the BBFC, the Director, the Head of Policy and the Senior Examiners. These people are referred to as “approvers”.
All category proposals are considered by an approver. At this stage the work has been passed by the BBFC, but not classified. For a work to be classified the category decision must be accepted by the company, and the packaging approved if the company is a member of the VPRC scheme. If a recommendation for cuts is made, the work will be seen by an approver to confirm that the cuts requested are necessary and correct.
Extranet/Interim clearance form and classification
If there are no issues the classification details should be accepted by the customer via the extranet or by signing and returning a copy of the Interim Clearance Form (ICF). In either case a final classification certificate will not be issued until the classification details have been accepted via the extranet or the ICF has been signed and returned. A work may not be legally sold in the UK until the final classification certificate has been issued. Approval by the BBFC is not sufficient. The ICF does not act as a final classification certificate.
Consumer Advice
The BBFC views the provision of Consumer Advice on packaging as very important. Our public opinion polling shows that the public wants Consumer Advice in particular to help decide which films to allow their children to watch. The Consumer Advice is provided with the category decision. Please see the Consumer Advice section for more information.
Titles on screen
Once the work has been approved the classification details may still not be issued if there is a query with the title on screen. It is the title on screen that is registered for classification (and not the one that may have been written on the submission form). If there is a discrepancy (except for minor mistakes in spelling or punctuation) between the title on the submission form and the title on screen, a Screen Titles Problem letter will be issued. The final classified title must appear on screen on the released product and on disc art/video labelling in accordance with the Labelling Regulations so this must be correct and conform to the Video Recordings Act. Please note that the classified title must use the Roman alphabet. The Board has a policy covering the use of potentially offensive language in titles.
Retaining a copy of the submitted work
Under the Video Recordings Act the BBFC has a statutory duty to retain the original work as submitted to us.
Withdrawal Fee
Works submitted to the Board and subsequently withdrawn may incur a withdrawal fee. Please see the Fees section for further information.
