The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification)

The BBFC or (British Board of Film Classification), is where

completed films are taken to, in order for them to be taken to
cinemas all over the world. If anything, documentaries are even taken
to them, and then they are given the green light to continue. This
always means that they can go on the TV. Mostly, documentaries are
either U, PG, 12 and 15, but can be 18 or X. This document will show
you the differences in classification, but usually documentaries don’t
need to be classified.

The above picture gives you the Universal classification logo, which is
suitable for family viewing. It can also be in the form of a U with a
small a in the corner; a U with a small b in the corner; or a U with a
small c in the corner. The U with a small a, tells you that there may be
some things unsuitable for a young child, like violence and language,
and it usually refers to cartoons and animes. The U with a small b
means that something a little stronger is present in the film or
documentary, and the U with a small c, means that something even
stronger might be involved, like scary scenes etc. But this doesn’t
stop the program from being suitable for the whole family. This can
be a classification for natural documentaries, documentaries for
children, and scary documentaries.
The above picture in a yellow background, gives you the Parental
Guidance classification logo, which is stronger than a U c film or
documentary. This is the typical logo for a film or documentary that
has some scenes that may be unsuitable for family viewing, like for
example, some limited violence, very brief nudity or sexy scenes, and
some scary scenes. This is the typical classification for documentaries
that are about war, nature, weather and ghostly documentaries, and
is the only form before a 12.

Above this text, you will see a picture of the 12-classification logo,
which is the next stage up from PG. This type logo is usually found for
romantic films and romantic comedies, other comedies, natural
disaster films, war films etc. This can also be used for documentaries
that have stronger pictures for a type of genre, like for instance
moderate violence, moderate language, moderate sex references. It
can be used for war documentaries, natural documentaries, weather
documentaries, but not as much, documentaries that have stronger
violence involved, possibly religious documentaries etc. The 12A
form of this type logo, means that it is more suitable for the adults, or
it has more mature scenes involved than a 12. The next stage up is a
15, which is literally the only other classification logo that
documentaries are put under. As well as this, this 12-classification
logo can also be used for Docudramas.
The above picture is the 15-classification logo for films and
documentaries. This is usually the last classification for a
documentary, if it has very strong language, moderate or strong
violence, (including strong bloody violence), strong sex references,
and strong nudity. This is the same for films, but isn’t the last
classification you would see, because you’ve still got the 18-
classification logo, and the R18-classification logo, which is usually
for those aged 21 or over. This is also very rarely seen for
docudramas, and very rarely seen for natural documentaries and
weather documentaries. But however, the next stage up is an 18.

This next picture is the 18-classification logo, which you wouldn’t

usually find for a documentary. If you do find it, it is very rare to
perceive. This type logo, usually tells you if there is very strong
bloody violence at present and very strong sex references and nudity
involved. This is never used for docudramas, natural documentaries
and weather documentaries, because it wouldn’t fit with the
perspective of what the documentary is about.
Never, would you see this logo in a documentary, as this is the
restricted 18-classification logo. This is usually what you would find
in an 18 movie, that has nothing but sex and nudity involved. This
may also include very strong bloody violence, and I’m not sure why
even anyone would want to watch something that has that involved.
If they do, then they are sick, but no documentary that has been
heard of, will have this classification logo given to them.