BBFC and Paramount Pictures UK launch Create The Card Competition for this winter’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Black Card
National competition for children aged 4-11 to design the BBFC Black Card
Winning Black Card to be projected on the big screen before every UK cinema showing
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in UK cinemas on 21 December 2024
Today, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is delighted to announce the launch of its next Create The Card Competition. The flagship competition offers creative minds an exclusive and exciting opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime prize.
In collaboration with Paramount Pictures UK, the BBFC is calling on all UK-based children aged 4 to 11 to showcase their artistic talent by designing the official BBFC Black Card for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The latest instalment of the franchise, which sees Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before.
The competition encourages children to unleash their creativity while educating them about film classification and the importance of age ratings in protecting young audiences. The BBFC’s iconic and unique Black Card is synonymous with the British cinema experience, and the winning design will be displayed in cinemas across the UK ahead of every Sonic the Hedgehog 3 screening.
To launch the competition, and in a Create The Card Competition first, Paramount Pictures UK have created a custom animated piece featuring Sonic the Hedgehog, voiced by actor Ben Schwartz, encouraging children to get involved.
The competition winner, to be announced in December, will be invited to the UK premiere ahead of the film's release, where they will be presented with a framed copy of their winning Black Card.
Natasha Kaplinsky, President, BBFC, said, “The Create The Card Competition is a much-anticipated event in the BBFC calendar, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Paramount Pictures UK on this occasion.
“Sonic the Hedgehog is an instantly recognisable character for children – and adults too – and we are incredibly excited to see how creative young minds illustrate their ideas for the iconic BBFC Black Card. In previous years, we’ve seen a wealth of terrific talent and it’s such a privilege to be able to judge the fantastic entries - I cannot wait to do it again.
“Part of our core mission is to help audiences understand the significance of age ratings and content advice from an early age, and this competition is a perfect way to achieve that. By actively involving young people in this way, we hope to encourage them to understand the importance of engaging with age-appropriate content.”
John Fletcher, Managing Director, Paramount Pictures UK, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with the BBFC on this engaging initiative. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with younger audiences in a meaningful and dynamic way.”
The competition is open for entries today (Monday 9 September) and will close on Friday 22 November. A panel including BBFC President Natasha Kaplinsky, industry experts from Paramount Pictures UK, and other special guests will oversee the selection process. The winner will be revealed ahead of the film’s UK release on 21 December 2024.
The competition is open to all UK-based children aged 4 to 11, who are welcome to apply as individuals or through their school or youth centre.
Every primary school across the country will have access to a suite of amazing resources for teachers to use to support students' learning and engage them with the competition. For the first time, we've created a bespoke assembly presentation resource that teachers can download for free. Students can also try our brand new game, Trailer Tag, which encourages children to critically engage with the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer and identify the classification highlights that occur.
Young people aged 4-11 can enter by either scanning and emailing a copy of their A4 landscape design or posting it directly to the BBFC’s London offices:
Create The Card Competition
BBFC
3 Soho Square
London
W1D 3HD
For more information, please get in touch with Georgia Morian on +44 (0) 7946 423719 or press@bbfc.co.uk. Further information and press assets can also be found on the Media Centre.
For more information about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 please contact Melissa_Quashie@paramount.com.
The BBFC is independent and not-for-profit. It is here to help everyone in the UK—especially children and families—choose age-appropriate films, videos, and websites, wherever and however they watch or use them. Now, in addition to classifying films released in UK cinemas and on DVD and Blu-ray, it’s providing age ratings for Video On Demand and music videos online and helping Mobile Network Operators set parental controls at the right level. Please visit bbfc.co.uk for further information.
For more information, please get in touch with Georgia Morian on +44 (0) 7946 423719 or press@bbfc.co.uk. Further information and press assets can also be found on the Media Centre.
X: @BBFC
Instagram: @bbfc_ageratings
Facebook: @BritishBoardFilmClassification
LinkedIn: BBFC (British Board of Film Classification)
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Paramount Pictures has some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.
Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.
For more information about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 please contact Melissa_Quashie@paramount.com.
