Edinburgh councillors have authorised the screening of uncertified films at the Filmhouse as part of a university degree show.
A report submitted by officers requested the Council’s licensing sub-committee to “determine the request for authorisation to screen films which do not have a classification certificate created by students as part of the ‘Edinburgh College Degree Show’”.
The films are part of a final showcase by students at Edinburgh College of Art set for late May and early June.
Under current the Council’s standard conditions, which applies to all cinema licences, only films with certificates from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) may be exhibited.
However, an exception to the conditions allows the showing of any film, so long as the Council’s permission is obtained first.
The process used to grant permission by officers is exactly the same as it is for The Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The BBFC’s certificates are usually exhibited before cinema screenings and on DVD covers. They include U for Universal, PG for Parental Guidance, as well as age ratings for 12, 15, and 18-year-olds.
Plans by the Filmhouse to self-certify its own films were rejected by the licensing sub-committee in November 2025 following a recommendation by officers.
Most cinemas show non-BBFC certified films infrequently, but the Filmhouse screens a high number of them – about 10 per month usually, and around 50 during the festival season.
Due to the high number non-BBFC films being showed by the cinema each month, those pushing for self-certification argued that it would allow the Filmhouse to bypass waiting times.
Requests usually take up to a month to get approval from the licensing sub-committee.
