Certification

My group and I have decided to classify our short film as a 15. This is because our short film highlights sensitive issues within society. People below the age of 15 do not take this situations seriously as their minds are too immature to understand the severity of suicide over cyberbullying. Under 15s are also impressionable, so we don't want to think that any occurence within the short film is acceptable and lead them into thinking that suicide is the easiest conclusion to resolve cyberbullying if they experience it. We feel that each element of the 15 coincides with our short film idea.

A 15 is only suitable for people aged 15 and over, and has different discrimination, drug, behaviour, language, nudity, sex, threat, and violence policies to an 18. No one younger than this age is able to see a 15 film in a cinema, as well as rent or buy a 15 rated film.

• Discrimination - Although there may be racist, homophobic, or other discriminatory themes and language, the media text must not commend discriminatory language or behaviour as a whole. 

• Drugs - The use of drugs may be shown but the text must not promote/encourage drug misuse (through instructional detail, making it able for young people to take part in this activity). It is unlikely acceptable to display the misuse of easily accessible and immensely dangerous substances (e.g. aerosols or solvents). 

• Imitable behaviour - Alarming behaviour (e.g. hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not be displayed with detail which could be copied. The description of accessible weapons is acceptable in some circumstances - of factors such as realism, context and setting. 

• Language - Strong language is allowed, and very strong language may be permitted depending on: the situation in which it is used and the justification of its context, who is using it, and its frequency throughout the media text. 

• Nudity - There is no pressure on nudity in a non-sexual or education context. Nudity may be shown in a sexual context but typically without strong detail. 

• Sex - The activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. Strong verbal references to sexual behaviour may be used, however, the strongest references are unlikely to be agreeable and acceptable unless they are justified by context. Media texts with a primary purpose of sexual arousal or stimulation are not probable to be acceptable. 

• Threat - Strong threat and horror are permitted. Sustained focuses on sadistic or threatening sexual acts (i.e. grooming) is unlikely to be accepted. 

• Violence - The infliction of pain or injury should not be the main focus, but violence may be heavy. Gory images of the strongest kind are not probably to be acceptable, as well as strong sadistic violence. There may be some detail in verbal references to sexual violence, but its image must be discreet and legitimised by context.

These are the most popular horror films of 2015, each having the certification of a 15.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/work-play-short-film-about-shining-2017

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/bruce-weber-short-films-1970