The Childnet Film Competition is back for 2024 – and so is British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) Chief Executive David Austin as one of our expert judges.
For the last 15 years, the Childnet Film Competition has challenged young filmmakers to create a short film to educate their peers about online safety. All entries must contain a positive message and be about that year’s theme of ‘How would you make the internet a better place?’
In this blog, we spoke to David Austin, the BBFC’s Chief Executive, about his thoughts on the competition, what he looks for in a winning film, and what the partnership between BBFC and Childnet means.
Who are the BBFC and what do they do?
Here at the BBFC, our aim is to help people in the UK choose age-appropriate films, videos and websites, wherever and however they watch or use them. In particular, we want to help children and parents choose what content is right for them and avoid what’s not. We provide age ratings and content advice for every single film you see in UK cinemas. We also classify DVDs and Blu-rays and and our BBFC age ratings appear on more than 30 streaming platforms in the UK, including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Why is this partnership with Childnet important to the BBFC?
One of our core missions at the BBFC is to protect children and vulnerable people from content which might cause them harm. With the exponential increase of content now available online, it is more important than ever before that we continue to support and empower audiences of all ages to make informed viewing decisions.
We are proud to have worked with Childnet for over a decade in their mission of keeping children safe online. Their film competition is a great example of showcasing young people’s voices, and engaging children to think about and speak on challenging but critically important topics.
Can you tell us a little bit about the black card that Film Competition finalists receive?
Every film the BBFC classifies receives an official BBFC Black Card, which is displayed in the cinema before the film begins. The Black Card includes the age rating and content advice for an individual film, as well as the signatures of our President, Natasha Kaplinksy OBE, and myself. Each finalist of the Childnet Film Competition will have their film classified and granted their own dedicated Black Card, with their own dedicated content advice – just like the films in the cinema. Fun fact: with their unique BBFC Black Cards, these films can legally be shown in cinemas across the UK!
What are your memorable moments from the Film Competition?
I am inspired by the talented and creative submissions to the film competition, and really enjoy seeing how budding filmmakers across the country find new and interesting ways to capture the key issues highlighted in the year’s theme. It is always refreshing to hear what the next generation has to say through their films – after all, watching films is the best part of my job!
What will you be looking for in the films entered this year?
This year, I’ll be looking for innovative films that really hold the attention of their audience. Every year the standard of entries to the competition increases, setting the bar even higher. I’m excited to see this year’s submissions, although picking the winners is always a challenging job! Best of luck to all entrants.
Thinking about this year’s Film Competition theme, what is one thing that you think everyone should do to make the internet a better place?
The internet can be a fun and exciting place to explore, but it’s important to do it safely. There are some simple things you can do to look out for yourself and others. Age ratings exist to help protect people and provide helpful guidance on what to expect from the content you may choose to watch. If you’re watching content online, look out for the age rating to see if it’s the right fit for you, or if you’re not sure, speak to a trusted adult.
