Differents between a certificate 15 and certificate 18 film.

According to the BBFC:


A 15 film always has a theme, but must be appropriate to the audience. Language is also infrequent, with a few references to strong language, and the strongest language is only acceptable if it is in context. Furthermore, nudity is seen in sexual content, but no strong detail is shown. Linking with nudity, sexual content is also seen but with no strong detail, however strong verbal references to sexual behaviour may be shown. Violence is usually strong, but with no focus or dwell on the pain that has been inflicted, and sexual violence is usually very brief. There is also no dwelling on dangerous techniques, such as hanging, and weapons that are easily accessible aren't focused upon too much. Very little gore is shown within horror, but threat and menace are allowed. Drugs are also shown, but are in no way encouraged or promoted.


Certificate 18's cannot risk harm to individuals or to society, or involve sexual violence that could support sexual assault. Also, explicit sexual content is only shown if the context can justify it.


DIFFERENCES:
The main contrasts between an 18 certificate film and a 15 certificate is the detail and the explicitness. In a an 18, sexual content is much more explicit and violence is in much more detail. Strong gore and violence is usually apparent in an 18, along with strong language. Nevertheless, in both a 15 and 18 the contents must be justified by the context.

The certificate we have decided to use for our film is a 15. We have chosen this because our open wouldn't really fit with the detail and explicitness of an 18. Also, the characters appearing in our opening are younger than 18 and it would therefore be best to go for the 15 certificate. Furthermore, our narrative is more of psychological thriller, and thus isn't explicite in its content.

Additional information: BBFC