BBFC launches new Classification Guidelines and calls for greater age rating consistency across online channels
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has published new Classification Guidelines, and in response to public demand is calling for greater consistency for age ratings across different platforms.
The BBFC's public consultation - involving more than 10,000 people -- showed that young people and parents want to see an increase in classification guidance, particularly around online content, as well as more consistency across all platforms.
Demand for age classification has never been higher, with 97% of people saying they benefit from age ratings being in place. 91% of people (and 95% of teenagers) want consistent age ratings that they recognise from the cinema and DVD to apply to
content accessed through streaming services.
David Austin, Chief Executive Officer at the BBFC, said: Over the last five years the way we consume film and video has changed beyond all recognition. That's why it's so important that there is consistency between what people watch on and
offline. The research shows that parents and teenagers want us to give them the information and guidance that they need to view what's right for them.
The BBFC's consultation confirms that people feel a heightened sense of anxiety when it comes to depictions of real world scenarios, in which audiences -- especially young people -- are likely to be concerned that it could happen to them. For
example, realistic contemporary scenarios showing terrorism, self-harm, suicide and discriminatory behaviour. This research confirms that the BBFC's current category standards are reflecting the public mood.
The large scale research also found that attitudes towards sexual threat and sexual violence have moved on since 2013/14. Although the BBFC already classifies such content restrictively, people told us that certain depictions of rape in
particular should receive a higher rating. The BBFC has therefore adjusted its Classification Guidelines in these areas.
People also told us that they expect the strongest sex references, in particular those that use the language of pornography, to be classified at 18. The new guidelines reflect this demand.
David Austin added:
We're here to listen to what people want, which is why they trust our age ratings. So it's encouraging to know that we've been classifying content in line with what people want and expect when it comes to difficult themes around credible real
life scenarios. We also know that people are more comfortable with issues such as action violence, if it's in a way that they are expecting -- such as a Bond or Bourne film. We are updating our standards around depictions of sexual violence and
very strong sex references to reflect changes in public attitudes.
The BBFC found film classification checking is most evident among parents of children under the age of 12, finding that 87% check all or most of the time, and a further 9% check occasionally. Interestingly, there has been a marked increase in the
level of claimed classification checking by parents of children aged 12-14 years -- up from 90% ever checking in 2013 to 97% in 2018.
The new guidelines will come into effect on 28 February 2019.
Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz is a set by José Larraz. UK: BBFC details not yet published for:
2019 Arrow Video (RB) Blu-ray
at UK Amazon released on 25th March 2019
Whirlpool is a 1970 Denmark / UK thriller by José Ramón Larraz (as JR Larrath).
Starring Karl Lanchbury, Vivian Neves and Pia Andersson.
Cut by the BBFC for an X rated 1970 cinema release.
Vampyres is a 1974 UK horror film by Joseph Larraz.
With Marianne Morris, Anulka Dziubinska and Murray Brown .
Cut by the BBFC for an X rated cinema release in 1975 and further cut for 18 rated VHS. Later the film was released uncut on 2003 DVD with an 18 rating. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
The Violation of the Bitch is a 1978 Spain thriller by José Ramón Larraz.
Starring Patricia Granada, Lidia Zuazo and Rafael Machado.
All UK releases prior to 2019 have been cut by or because of the BBFC
Promotional Material
One of the most underrated and oft-neglected genre filmmakers of his generation, Spanish-born director José Ramón Larraz ( Symptoms ) finally receives his due with this collection of his work, the first of its kind, bringing together a
fascinating cross-section of films from the first half of his lengthy cinematic career.
In Larraz s debut feature, the hitherto ultra-rare Whirlpool (1970), Vivian Neves stars as Tulia, a young model invited to a photographer s secluded country home for what purports to be a quiet weekend retreat - but soon transpires to be
anything but. 1974 s Vampyres - perhaps the best known and most widely-released of all José Larraz s films - sees a duo of blood hungry female vampires prowling the British countryside, from where they lure unsuspecting male motorists
back to their imposing, dilapidated mansion for draining... in more ways than one. Meanwhile, in 1978 s The Coming of Sin ( La Visita del Vicio , in its native Spanish), a young gypsy girl experiences a violent sexual awakening as
her dreams of a naked young man on horseback become reality.
By turns terrifying, titillating, artful and scandalous, these three films collected here - all newly restored from original film elements, with Whirlpool and The Coming of Sin making their Blu-ray world premieres - collectively
offer film fans a unique perspective on the fascinating, highly-varied career of one of the horror genre s most overlooked auteurs.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
Three films from José Ramón Larraz: Whirlpool , Vampyres and The Coming of Sin , all newly-restored in 2K from original film elements
English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing for all features
Newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by Jo Botting, Tim Greaves and Vanity Celis
WHIRLPOOL
Original US Theatrical Cut
Brand new audio commentary by Tim Lucas
Obsessive Recurrence: The Early Films of José Larraz - author and critic Kim Newman reflects on the recurring themes and underlying obsessions linking together the early productions of José Larraz
A Curious Casting - actor Larry Dann on the strange story behind his casting in Whirlpool
Deviations of Whirlpool - featurette comparing the differences between the US Theatrical Cut and a previously circulated, alternate cut of the film
Archival interview with José Larraz
Image Gallery
Trailer
VAMPYRES
Brand new audio commentary by Kat Ellinger
Brand new interviews with producer Brian Smedley-Aston, actors Marianne Morris, Anulka Dziubinska, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, makeup artist Colin Arthur and composer James Kenelm Clarke
Reimagining Vampyres - a brand new interview with Larraz s friend and collaborator Victor Matellano, director of the 2015 Vampyres remake
Archival interview with José Larraz
Jose Larraz and Marianne Morris Q&A at 1997 Eurofest
Image Gallery
Trailers
THE COMING OF SIN
Spanish and English language versions of the feature
Brand new audio commentary by Kat Ellinger
Variations of Vice: The Alternate Versions of The Coming of Sin exploitation expert Marc Morris on the strange and scandalous release history of José Larraz's most censored film
Remembering Larraz author and filmmaker Simon Birrell shares his memories José Larraz
His Last Request (2005, 27 mins) - short film by Simon Birrell
This Shocking World is a 1963 Italy musical music documentary by Gianni Proia.
Starring George Sanders, Alexander and Maria Ansaldi.
Cut by the BBFC for an X rated 1964 cinema release. In the US the film was reworked in 1965 to produce a US version titled Ecco. This is set for an Unrated US release in 2019.
The Forbidden is a 1966 Italy / France documentary by Benjamin Andrews and Lee Frost.
Starring Baby Bubbles, Bob Cresse and Pat Hall.
The original French film was reworked for US release.
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2019 Severin Films [Ecco + Forbidden World] (RA) Blu-ray
at US Amazon released on 29th January 2019
2019 Severin Films [Ecco + Forbidden World] R1 DVD
at US Amazon released on 29th January 2019
Promotional Material
Severin Films presents ECCO and THE FORBIDDEN - The most extreme mondo of them all, now scanned in 4k for the first time ever, plus mega-sleazy bonus mondo!
In 1963, nudie/roughie filmmakers Bob Cresse and Lee Frost (HOUSE ON BARE MOUNTAIN, LOVE CAMP 7) saw the U.S. grosses of MONDO CANE and quickly imported and adapted one of the most provocative and successful shockumentaries of the decade.
Narrated by Academy Award® winner George Sanders (ALL ABOUT EVE) and featuring a legendary soundtrack by Riz Ortolani (Oscar®-nominated for MONDO CANE's 'More'), ECCO explores a world of sadism, delinquency, roller derby, extreme piercing,
appalling stereotypes and the infamous Lapland-women-castrating-reindeer-with-their-teeth sequence, now scanned in 4k from the original inter-negative. Bonus feature THE FORBIDDEN is Frost & Cresse's rarely seen and totally insane 1966 fake
Mondo, packed with staged scenes of Swiss lesbians, L.A. rapists, Parisian tarts and Nazi strippers, newly-transferred from the only known 35mm print in existence.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Bandit - Producer David Goldstein remembers Bob Cresse. I Want More - Short Film. Ecco Trailer.
