Certificates

I am looking at certificates for my film, so to help me decide what age rating my film is most appropriate for I looked at various melodramas such as:

• The Best of Me (12A)
• Safe Haven (12A)
• Dear John (12A)
• My Sister's Keeper (PG)
• Patch Adams (12A)
• The Notebook (12A)
• Ghost (12A)
• The Vow (12A)
• Far From Heaven (12A)
• The Fault in Our Stars (12A)
• A Walk to Remember (PG)
• An Unfinished Life (12A)

I found that most melodrama films have the certificate of a 12A. I found this information out using the BBFC website.

Link to BBFC website for 12 and 12A certificates 

Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children under the age of 12. If someone younger than the age of 12 wanted to see a 12A film, they have to be accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to watch a 12A film should consider whether the dil is suitable for the child.

The difference between a 12 and 12A:

• 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film.
• 12 means one has to be 12 to view the film, with or without and adult.
• The 12A certificate is not restrictive, it is more advisory.
• A cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12 admitted to a 12A film.
• Accompanied viewing cannot be enforced in the home, so the 12 certificate remains for DVD,s, rather than the 12A.
• The 12 certificate means one cannot seek or rent the item unless the customer is over the age of 12.