Movie News

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has announced Natasha Kaplinsky as its new President. The newsreader, presenter and journalist is a recognised figure in British public life and is passionate about issues affecting children's rights and welfare. Natasha will take up the new position in October and will replace current President, Patrick Swaffer, who has held the post since 2012.

As President of the BBFC, Natasha will be a member of the Board of Directors and will chair the Board of Classification, which meets monthly. The Board of Classification is responsible for overseeing all matters relating to classification, including the most complex and controversial of cases.

The President also chairs the BBFC's Advisory Council on Children's Viewing (APCV), which was established in 1999 and which meets three times a year. The APCV advises the BBFC on issues concerning children and young people. Its members provide a wide range of skills and expertise connected with child welfare, and contribute to the development of BBFC policy.

The President brings a high-level approach and independence to difficult cases and policy issues. Working with a wide range of external stakeholders across Westminster, Whitehall and the media, Natasha will help to raise awareness of the trusted guidance that the BBFC delivers to UK families. She will also be championing its year-round Education and Outreach activity, and will be meeting with the BBFC Youth Panel in the coming months.

Natasha will provide a sounding board to Chief Executive, David Austin, as the BBFC continues to adapt to deliver its core mission of helping everyone choose content that is right for them and avoid what's not. Natasha and David will work in close collaboration to uphold the positive culture of the organisation and promote staff engagement.

Throughout her career, Natasha has held purposeful roles across public, private and non-profit sectors. With over 20 years of experience, Natasha has worked within both philanthropic and commercial businesses to support vulnerable people and communities around the world. She is skilled at working in tandem with national institutions as well as local charities, understanding the importance of strong partnerships to create an impact.

Amongst other pro-bono roles, Natasha is currently President of Barnardo's and an Ambassador for Save the Children, travelling widely for the organisation. In December 2020, Natasha founded the UK Women's Network, giving women and girls the opportunity to leverage their talents and resources. Natasha is also patron for a number of charities, including The Bevern Trust, a charity that cares for young adults with learning difficulties.

Natasha has an extensive record of achievements, including being awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2017 Birthday Honours List for services to Holocaust Commemoration. In 2014, Natasha became a member of the Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission, and in 2015, she was appointed by the Prime Minister to the United Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation advisory board.

Natasha Kaplinsky said:

I'm delighted to be joining the BBFC in October as the new President. The BBFC is accountable to the Government, Parliament, local authorities, and to people across the UK. It is clear that it takes its accountability seriously, alongside the impartial nature of its role. For over a century, the BBFC has done fantastic work to help families have a positive viewing experience, wherever and however they watch content. It's crucial that children's welfare is at the forefront of policy decision-making and this is central to the BBFC's efforts in the Online Safety space. I am really excited to bring my knowledge and experience to help guide the BBFC in its 110th year and beyond. The challenges that young people face now in the UK are greater than ever before - and I am committed to giving voice to their needs. I can't wait for the opportunities that this next chapter will bring.

David Austin, Chief Executive said:

We are so pleased that Natasha has been appointed as our next President. She brings a wealth of expertise and a profound understanding of our core audience of parents, carers and families. With Natasha at the helm, I am looking forward to seeing how the business will continue to evolve to improve our offer to meet the needs of our industry partners and UK audiences. The influence, media insight, and vision that she will bring will really help to shape the future of the BBFC. He added: I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Patrick for his invaluable and long-lasting contributions across his ten years as President and the support he has given me as CEO.

Patrick Swaffer, outgoing President said:

As I reflect on the last decade, I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved. The modernisation of the organisation, particularly with the introduction of our cloud-based compliance platform, Horizon, has enabled us to work more flexibly and effectively than ever before. Public trust in the BBFC remains extremely high and as a result we have seen our widely recognised age ratings extend beyond our statutory responsibilities; as encouraged by the Government in their response to the consultation on audience protection standards on VOD services. We now work with 29 online UK services to provide age ratings for content on a voluntary best practice basis, which is a remarkable achievement. As we look ahead, Natasha is the perfect candidate to lead the BBFC through what I'm sure will be yet another transformational phase fully supported by David and the excellent staff at the BBFC who have made my time as President such a pleasure.

Bros is a 2022 US comedy romance by Nicholas Stoller
Starring Luke Macfarlane, Billy Eichner and Kristin Chenoweth

Two men with commitment problems attempt a relationship.

Bros will be making history upon its release as the first R-rated gay rom-com ever made by a major studio, but that historical record certainly won't include the Middle East. It is pre-emptively skipping any kind of release in Middle East markets due to their cultural antipathy to anything gay.

It's still unclear exactly what markets in the region will be affected, but it's likely to include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Kuwait -- all of which are notorious for censoring movies over even the slightest hint of LGBTQ themes or content.

The film is anything but subtle in depicting gay romance and sexuality, which has previously been censored or toned down by Hollywood.

Thank God is a 2022 India comedy by Indra Kumar
Starring Rakul Preet Singh, Ajay Devgn and Sidharth Malhotra

An egoistic real estate broker in huge debts, meets with an accident. As he gains consciousness, he realizes that he is in heaven. God appears in front of him and informs him that he will have to play a GAME OF LIFE. If he manages to win, he will be sent back to earth and if he loses, he will be sent to hell.

Kuwait: Banned in September 2022

The film caused a little controversy in India as religious campaigners felt that it mocked the hindu religion and so filed a legal case claiming that the film hurt religious sentiments. It is reported that this religious mockery did not go down well with the Kuwait film censor who banned the film from a cinema release in Kuwait.

Tad The Lost Explorer And The Curse Of The Mummy is a 2022 Spain animation comedy by Enrique Gato
Starring Óscar Barberán, (voice), Luis Posada, (voice), Michelle Jenner and (voice)

BBFC category cuts were required for a U rated cinema release in 2022.

Summary Notes

Tad accidentally unleashes an ancient spell endangering the lives of his friends: Mummy, Jeff and Belzoni. With everyone against him and only helped by Sara, he sets off on an adventure, in order to put an end to the curse of the Mummy.

Versions

uncut		US: Uncut and MPAA PG rated for: 2018 Paramount R1 DVD at US Amazon #ad
cut: run: 89:03s pal: 85:29s		UK: Passed U for very mild threat, violence, rude humour, language after BBFC cuts: 2022 cinema release The BBFC commented: The distributor chose to make changes to the film to achieve their preferred U category. Mild bad language ('crap') was removed.. An uncut PG classification was available.

Spider-man: No Way Home is a 2021 US/Iceland action adventure by Jon Watts
Starring Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland

Exists as a Theatrical Version and an extended More Fun Stuff Version. Both were rated MPAA PG-13 in the US. Both were 12A/12 rated by the BBFC.

In the US: Rated PG-13 for sequences of action/violence, some language and brief suggestive comments

Summary Notes

With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Versions

uncut run: 156:44s pal: 150:28s

UK: The More Fun Stuff Version was passed 12A uncut for moderate violence, threat: 2022 cinema release

Boarding House is a 1982 USA comedy horror by John Wintergate (as Johnn Wintergate).
Starring John Wintergate, Kalassu and Lindsay Freeman.    

Noted as the first horror film shot on video. The original video release from 1982 was a spoof comedy horror. This version was banned by the BBFC for 1983 UK VHS release. The  video was re-edited to create a more serious horror for an MPAA R rated Theatrical Version. An alternative version was created in 1984 titled Psycho Killer. A much longer fan based creation from 2013 has been labelled the Director's Cut

Summary Notes

Resembling a cross between "The Amityville Horror" and a Playboy Playmates video, this film tells the terrifying tale of a cheesy video special effect that stalks bikini-clad women. In between scenes of them playfully splashing each other and wrestling with each other's bathing suit tops, they're murdered and/or terrorized by horrific hallucinations. These hallucinations include seeing blood in the shower stalls (while they're trying to lather up), having giant monsters jump out of the hall closet, and seeing their faces temporarily turn into rubber halloween masks.

Fan Created Director's Cut

Director's Cut run: 156:48s pal: 150:32s

US: The Director's Cut is MPAA Unrated for: 2015 Olive Films DVD [Director's Cut + Original Video Version] R1 DVD at US Amazon

Psycho Killer Version

Psycho Killer run: 98:08s pal: 94:12s

US: The Psycho Killer Version is MPAA Unrated for: 2021 American Genre Film [Original Version + Theatrical Version + Psycho Killer] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad

Theatrical Serious Horror Version

Theatrical Version run: 87:57s pal: 84:26s

US: The Theatrical Version  is MPAA R rated for: 2021 American Genre Film [Original Version + Theatrical Version + Psycho Killer] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad 2015 Olive Films DVD [Director's Cut + Original Video Version] R1 DVD at US Amazon

Original Spoof Horror Video Version

Original Version run: 98:46s pal: 94:49s		US: The Original Version is MPAA Unrated for: 2021 American Genre Film [Original Version + Theatrical Version + Psycho Killer] R0 Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad 2015 Olive Films DVD [Director's Cut + Original Video Version] R1 DVD at US Amazon
banned		UK: The Original Version was banned by the BBFC for: 1983 Intervision VHS

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 2022 Australia/US film by Taika Waititi
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale

Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.

Malaysia: Banned by the film censor in August 2022

Disney likes to add a little preachy moralising about gay positivity and this film is not an exception with a couple of minor script references. Korg (Taika Waititi) mentioned his two dads and briefly ending up with another male Krogan. The other reference was the female character, Valkyrie, taking an interest in a concubine of Zeus.

Malaysia's Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin spotted the gay references and said that he would continue to look out for LGBT content that would continue to censored in future.

The film censor did propose that cuts could be made to secure a release but Disney declined and the film was formally banned.

Hong Kong has banned the screening of an award-winning animated short film over a one-second depiction of the city's 2014 democracy protests.

The Ground Up Film Society told AFP that it cancelled a Sunday screening of Losing Sight of a Longed Place at their film festival after Hong Kong authorities would not allow an uncut version to be shown.

The eight-minute film began as a student project and tells the true story of a Hong Kong gay rights activist.

Hong Kong censors demanded cutting a scene that lasts less than a second. The contentious shot shows tents and slogans reminiscent of Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in 2014, which authorities describe as an unlawful occupation of thoroughfares.

Lightyear is a 2022 US children's cartoon drama by Angus MacLane
Starring Chris Evans, (voice), Keke Palmer, (voice), Dale Soules and (voice)

The story of Buzz Lightyear and his adventures to infinity and beyond.

There are no censorship issues with this release in the west but the film has been banned in many muslim countries.

In particular the film won't be in theaters in Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Malaysia. The issue is the presence of openly LGBTQ characters in the film.

The film was also removed from the Disney+ streaming service. Disney were reluctant to make cuts to remove the gay material and decided that it was best to remove the film entirely from countries or regions where the material is controversial.

Watership Down is a 1978 UK / USA animation adventure thriller by Martin Rosen.
Starring John Hurt and Richard Briers and Ralph Richardson.

Based upon Richard Adam's novel of the same title, this animated feature delves into the surprisingly violent world of a warren of rabbits as they seek to establish a new colony free of tyranny and human intervention.

Uncut and U rated by the BBFC for many years.  Perhaps the BBFC's bloodiest, albeit animated, U rated film. It is surely one of the BBFC's most controversial ratings.

The U was finally uprated to PG for cinema release in 2022.

Not Okay is a 2022 US comedy drama by Quinn Shephard
Starring Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien and Embeth Davidtz

A misguided young woman, desperate for friends and fame, fakes a trip to Paris to update her social media presence. A terrifying incident takes place in the real world which becomes a part of the imaginary trip and offers all she wanted.

Hulu's new film Not Okay starts with a surprising disclaimer that reads:

CONTENT WARNING: This film contains flashing lights, themes of trauma, and an unlikeable female protagonist. Viewer discretion advised.

The trigger warning was added by the director, not the Disney-owned platform itself. The film's director Quinn Shepard said, while it might not be taken seriously, the warning was inspired by some very real concerns. She said:

The content warning was borne out of, to be honest, our test screenings.

We un-ironically and consistently got responses from -- I'm not going to say what demographic, but you might be able to guess -- people who were quite literally like, 'Why would someone make a movie with an unlikable woman?' It's something I've repeatedly heard, and a lot of my other writer friends have as well. If you portray flawed women or women who reflect societal flaws, you get notes like, 'I literally don't understand why you tell a story about this character.'

Carry On Nurse is a 1959 UK comedy romance by Gerald Thomas
Starring Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Connor

Cut by the BBFC for U rated cinema release in 1959. Most of the cuts persisted onto PG rated home video releases.

Summary Notes

An idiosyncratic group of patients wreak havoc in the men's surgical ward of Haven Hospital. They decide to take their revenge on the frosty Matron, and there is even a spot of DIY surgery!

Versions

best available  cut:   run: 86:37s pal: 83:09s		UK: Passed PG for mild innuendo and slapstick violence: 2006 Optimum R2 DVD at UK Amazon UK: Passed PG: 2001 Warner video 1988 Warner VHS From IMDb. Part of the shaving scene cut from cinema release was restored but otherwise the cinema cuts persisted onto video.
category cuts cut:   run: 85m pal: 82m		UK: Passed U after BBFC category cuts: 1959 cinema release Thanks to Vince. The BBFC cuts list read: Reel 1 - In the scene where the male patient is shaved, end the episode immediately after the words "I'm not going to shave your face" have been spoken. Reel 2 - After the nurse's words "What a fuss about such a little thing", remove the shot of the patient peering under the sheet. Reel 5 - Remove "Get the doctor to give you something to make you sleep." Reel 7 - Remove "Yes, you can pick up Mr. Hickson's balls."

The BBFC introduced its annual report covering its work during 2021:

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2021. The Report outlines key activity and achievements by the organisation after another challenging year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the demand for trusted UK BBFC age ratings stronger than ever before, the Report presents ambitious future goals for the business.

Last year, the BBFC classified 5,431 video submissions; 1,891 online submissions; 659 theatrical films and 104 music videos. At the close of 2021, 27 Video on Demand (VOD) platforms were licensed to display BBFC age ratings in the UK on a voluntary, best practice basis. Through these industry partnerships, the BBFC provided age ratings for over 17,673 pieces of VOD content, equating to 811,178 minutes. This included issuing new in-house classifications for packaged media that can be used online and for digital-only content, as well as the self-rating partnership with Netflix. Other streaming services and platforms working with the BBFC are Prime Video, Apple TV+, Sky Store, StarzPlay, Pluto TV, YouTube Movies, Rakuten TV, amongst others.

2021 represented the busiest year of the BBFC's collaboration with the UK's four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) since its inception in 2013. Every year, hundreds of millions of websites are classified in accordance with BBFC standards, with mobile networks restricting access by children using mobile internet services to any website that would be classified 18 under the Mobile Classification Framework . Working hand-in-hand with the Mobile Network Operators to protect young people from viewing harmful content, the BBFC adjudicated on 97 websites last year, placing 33 websites behind adult filters.

The Report also shines a light on the organisation's successful ongoing partnership with Netflix. The long-term agreement between the BBFC and Netflix means that UK families will continue to see trusted BBFC age ratings on all Netflix content for years to come. The increase in online age ratings is in line with BBFC research that showed that 91% of parents and 95% of teens want to see the same age ratings that they know and trust from cinema and DVD/Blu-ray packaging applied on video on demand (VOD) and streaming platforms.

Additional key insights from the BBFC's Annual Report and Accounts include:

• 15 was the most common age rating across cinema, physical media and online, with the BBFC classifying 3,041 pieces of content with the age rating.

• Discussion of classification and compliance processes, spotlighting an array of high-profile and independent film releases at each age rating category.

• Findings from research commissioned, including attitudes towards strong and very strong language and the classification of racism and discrimination in films and TV.

• Strength of partnerships with the industry, charities, and external organisations.

• Creation of PSHE Association accredited resources for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 4 learners, as well as wider education and outreach activity.

• Establishment of the BBFC Youth Panel comprising fourteen young people from across the UK, aged 16-19. The panel works in close collaboration with the BBFC to provide feedback on key classification issues, ensuring that we are meeting the needs of young people.

• Recruitment of five new members to the Advisory Panel on Children's Viewing, contributing to discussions about the Youth Panel; age ratings on VOD services; and the publication of the draft Online Safety Bill.

David Austin, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said:

After another difficult start to the year with COVID-19 restrictions, I am proud of everything we have achieved in 2021 to help parents and families choose content well. Alongside the wider recovery of the cinema industry, it has been especially encouraging to see a significant rise in our trusted age ratings online. Our research shows that UK families want to see the same ratings that they recognise from their local cinema when watching films and TV shows online, so it is reassuring that platforms are working with us to ensure this demand is met. Now in our 110th year, we continue to deliver more of our trusted and well-understood age ratings from cinemas to streaming platforms across the UK to help families choose content that's right for them.

Thor: Love and Thunder is a 2022 Australia/US film by Taika Waititi
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale

Thor enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster to fight Gorr the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.

A few people who have watched the film since its release last week are alerting their Twitter followers to the fact the scenes showing Jane's cancer treatments could be triggering to those who have either gone through it themselves, or have known someone to have gone through it. One tweeted:

No spoilers, but Thor: Love and Thunder SHOULD have had a trigger warning for graphic depiction of cancer and the fact that we didn't know going in is atrocious.

The BBFC doesn't mention this particular trigger in its short description often reserved for trigger warning, but does mention the distressing scenes in its long rating information. The BBFC passed the film 12A for moderate fantasy violence, injury detail, threat, horror, sex references.

Leena Manimekalai, an Indian film-maker based in Canada , has received thousands of threats of violence after the poster for her short film Kaali, which was aired in the Canadian city of Toronto at the weekend, went viral on social media.

A hashtag reading arrest Leena Manimekalai began trending. Two police cases -- one in the Indian capital, Delhi, and another in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh -- were filed against the director and others involved in the film with claims of a disrespectful depiction of a Hindu god and of supposedly hurting religious sentiments.

The Indian high commission in Canada said it had received complaints from members of the Hindu community over the poster and it urged Canadian authorities and the event organisers to withdraw all such provocative material.

Manimekalai wrote and directed the film as part of her graduate film studies at a Toronto university. In the piece, the goddess Kaali inhabits Manimekalai's body and wanders the city streets in a search for belonging. In a scene pictured on the film's poster she shares a cigarette with a homeless man while dressed as the goddess.

The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, which hosted the screening of the film, issued an apology, saying the film and poster had inadvertently caused offence to members of the Hindu and other faith communities.