18 certificate
Related: artistic merit - film censorship - R18
The difference between the BBFC's 18 certificate and R18 certificate is artistic merit. A film tagged 18 has artistic merit and a film tagged R18 hasn't. [Jul 2006]
18 Certificate, artistic merit
In October 2004, the BBFC granted an 18 certificate for Michael Winterbottom's movie 9 Songs, which features a number of explicit scenes of unsimulated sex. It is unclear whether this marks the end of the R18 certificate, or whether the BBFC will apply an "artistic merit" test to distinguish between films which are acceptable for 18 certificates and those which recieve only R18 certificates. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R18_certificate [Dec 2004]
R18 certificate, no artistic merit [...]
The R18 certificate represents a film or video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification. It is intended to provide a classification for works that are within British obscenity laws, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable for its 18 certificate. In practice, this means hardcore pornography. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R18 [Dec 2004]