Hi, I’m Aaron. I’m a young, enthusiastic and passionate filmmaker currently doing a Level 3 Media, TV and Film Production course and I have a large portfolio of experience of work within the arena of filmmaking and the creative arts. I enjoy creating and experimenting within filmmaking, watching films, writing, doing Practical Effects and SFX, and all sorts of artistic expressions and creative arts. I also enjoy being a part of discussions surrounding film and media, and I’m incredibly enthusiastic to do so. I’m also a huge loser. But nonetheless, I continue to enthusiastically embark on my mission to entertain, create, experiment, discuss, develop and gain experience. Aaron is my name and being a passionate film guy is my game.

Hi, my name is Afraz, I live in South London and I am an actor. I decided to join the youth panel because I wanted to represent the South Asian community and shine the light on stereotyping and portraying minorities in the media. As a British Pakistani teenager, I know first hand that there aren’t many South Asian role models in the media in the UK and I want to change that. Additionally, I wanted to teach others about my experiences of being in two films. The first film was a feature film called Mogul Mowgli where I was a side character and the other was a short film called Vest by Samir Mallal where I was the main character. These two roles opened my eyes to the dedication, the passion and the resilience that is required to make a film stand out. I consider myself a creative person with a passionate interest in watching and critiquing film. I am so grateful for the BBFC Youth Panel as it’s a place where I can express my opinions about film and also learn about the intricacies of classifying content.

Hi! I'm Anna. I study English, History, Economics and Moving Image Arts for AS. I joined the BBFC youth panel because I love filmmaking and I'm interested in discussions about film with other young people. In my spare time I like to read and force my friends to watch my favourite movies.

Hi, I’m Brandon. I am 19 years old and live-in North-West London. In my spare time I enjoy watching films, video and online content. I am also currently learning to play the Saxophone which I enjoy very much. I come from a Caribbean background and I am part of a large extended family which is a multicultural one therefore, I understand the importance of society accepting multiculturalism. I can confidently convey the views and opinions of a teenage black male living in an inner city, in a community which is often underrepresented when decisions from the public are sought. My experiences as a teenager in today’s society enables me to represent views and opinions which are similar to those of many of my peers. I consider myself very fortunate to be a member of the youth panel of the British Board of Film Classification in order to ensure that I as young person am involved in the Classification process to ensure that the correct outcomes are achieved at a time when my peers and I are affected by things such as suicide, self-harm, age, religious beliefs, disability, violence, racism and our gender.

Hi! My name is Dalia, I am 15 and from Manchester. For as long as I can remember I have always liked films. If you ask my friends they'd say I torment them by talking about at least 5 films a day unapologetically. But my real passion came during the lockdown, where I fell into endless rabbit holes about the film industry. I started becoming interested in the filmmaking process and especially screenwriting directing. My favourite filmmakers are Wes Anderson, Pedro Almodóvar, and Taika Waititi who made my all-time favourite film 'Jojo Rabbit'. I found the BBFC youth panel an intriguing opportunity as I had wondered how the film classification progress worked. Why is Mamma Mia a PG? Or why was Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Reservoir Dogs banned in the UK? Apart from films, my other interests and hobbies include music and going to concerts(too many artists to list right now though), writing poetry and short stories and reading, crocheting, and debating. I am planning to do my A- levels in Biology, Chemistry, History, and English Literature but I also hope to gain some more film knowledge and practice making some short films.

Hello!! My name is El, I'm an A level student and I'll be doing creative writing at uni next year. I'm a huge fan of books like six of crows and comics like moon knight (I love the shows to!!). I also love gaming my favourite games are, sky children of the light and the last of us. I decided to join the youth panel because I'm an avid supporter of representation on the screen. I love sharing my ideas for how to make representation for underrepresented communities more accessible for an audience who deserve to see people like them on the screen.

Hi! I am Emma, a Sixth Form student living in Dorset. I am currently studying Chinese, Spanish, Economics, and Film Studies, which I am really enjoying! When I was younger, I used to watch films all the time with my family, and now that I am older, I have come to appreciate them even more, also finding inspiration from them to create short pieces of my own. When I saw this opportunity, I knew I had to jump at it. It has given me the chance to learn more about the film classification process and the film industry in general. I have been lucky enough to have lived in various places around the world such as Dubai, China and Colombia, which has allowed me to experience different cultures and perspectives in turn enriching my appreciation of and exposure to different film genres. In my spare time, I also love watching Formula 1 and I'm an avid supporter of Ferrari. I enjoy reading books of all genres, from mysteries and thrillers to rom-coms. Additionally, I am a big fan of music and one of my favourite artists is Hozier.

Hi! I’m Emma and I’m a student at Loughborough University studying Media and Communications. I’ve been on the youth panel for a couple years now and am loving all the projects we get to do. I’ve come to really appreciate the BBFC’s work and how important it is for us to apply our youth perspectives to the film regulation process. I look forward to continuing this and helping to be a voice for the younger generation.

Hi! I’m Harry, and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of the BBFC youth panel for 2023. I’m currently in year 12, studying Drama, English lit and Photography with an EPQ. I love all things film and tv as an actor, but my dream is to become a filmmaker. I try to be a sponge for all things cinema, whether watching films and interviews or making my own short films. Being a part of the youth panel allows me to continue learning, having brilliant conversations with people of my generation who have incredible passion for film and TV. When I applied for the youth panel, I said how excited I was at the thought of being a part of a group that can bring such individual insight to film and film certification, and now I get to live that hope! I encourage anybody who loves any form of video to apply and have their thoughts heard. Live long and prosper.

Hi, my name is Megan and I live in Belfast. What interested me so much about the BBFC Youth Panel was the chance to be able to voice my opinion on important topics that affect young people nowadays, from diverse representation in the media to mental health. On top of studying History, Spanish and French in school, I act as if Netflix were another school subject, dedicating an embarrassing amount of time to re-watching ‘Community’ and every Louis Theroux documentary available. I aim to one day be involved in the production of documentaries, as I hope that my TV binges will eventually come in handy.

Hi, I’m Mercy, a Film, Drama and English Literature student from London. I’m an intersectional feminist and avid activist. I joined the BBFC Youth Panel because I’m really interested in issues pertaining to young people and am especially passionate about having progressive conversations about issues that affect the youth. In my spare time you’d find me roller-skating, crocheting and watching TV/Films and listening to podcasts.

Hi! I’m Michael and I’m a member of the BBFC Youth Panel. I decided to join the Panel to discover more about film and get to know other people my age who are just as interested in film as I am. Aside from binge watching, I spend my spare time playing football, running and listening to as much music as I can. In the future I’d love to study film and hopefully get the chance to be involved in the industry one day. Having the chance to be involved with the BBFC is something I’m really grateful for and I can’t wait to get involved with what lies ahead!

Hey! I’m Noa and I’m 16. As you could maybe guess, I love all things film. Whether that’s acting, editing, filmmaking, screenwriting or watching - everything! It has always been my dream to create films as a profession, and so I’m excited to learn more about the film industry and film classification process through the BBFC youth panel. I equally hope to inform and have discussions on things such as representation, anti-semitism, and sexism in the media, as well as many other issues too. In my spare time you’d usually find me with a hot cup of tea: rewatching my comfort series, adding more films to my never ending watchlist on letterboxd, or procrastinating my physics homework by scouring through tvtropes.com. Aside from film, another big interest of mine is languages. Right now I’m studying French, Spanish, Hebrew and Japanese in my free time. I think learning languages unlocks doors to understand more films in their cultural contexts, which is perhaps one of the main reasons why I enjoy learning them.

Hi, I’m Owen, a newly appointed member of the BBFC Youth Panel from the North West of the UK! I am incredibly interested in film and when I saw the application for the panel I knew that it was something that I wanted to do. Film and the film industry has always fascinated me so having the opportunity to be on the Youth Panel gives me a great opportunity to learn lots about a business that I am intrigued in. Ever since I was little, I remember having “Friday Night - Movie Nights”; watching a wide range of films through the years - some good and some not so much… This is why I thought the BBFC Youth Panel would be perfect as I would meet people interested in film, sharing and listening to ideas. When I am not watching films, I love gaming and watching sports. I am a Manchester United fan, and even though it may be tough, I try to watch every single game I can!

Hi, I’m Robin. I’m an A-level student from Kent currently taking English literature, religious studies, music and (my favourite!) film studies. When I’m not at school or performing live music on the weekends, you’ll definitely find me watching a film. My taste spans from pretty much anything by Studio Ghibli, to musicals like ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, to psychological horrors like ‘Get Out’. The BBFC Youth Panel is an incredible group and I’m honoured to join them in tackling modern issues in film, as well as sharing passion and creativity.

Hi, I'm Rumaisa. I am currently working towards a level 3 extended diploma in Creative Practice, focusing on the technical aspects of filmmaking, alongside an A-Level in English. I am highly interested in History and Politics.My favourite film is Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig. I love reading, binge-watching shows, art, and Taylor Swift. My dream career is to be a producer and I hope that taking part in this opportunity will help me in fulfilling this. Classification is such an important part of the viewer experience that is so often overlooked and I am excited to learn more about it.

Hi, I’m Shivam and I’m from London. I love film and always have, and the idea of collaborating with film classifiers on such an exciting project was an offer I couldn’t refuse! My interests include voraciously reading and writing, and I have written articles for i-D, VICE, The Face and Film Stories among others. My favourite film directors are Michael Haneke, Lars Von Trier, Luis Bunuel and Darren Aronofsky and my favourite film at the moment is leporine, surreal ‘Inland Empire’ by David Lynch. I believe young people should be pathing their own narratives and framing the conversation about our generation through our own autonomy, and the idea of working with fellow young people for young people makes me incredibly excited.

Hello I’m William, and I’m a Year 13 student who loves watching, reading about and making films. I have a particular passion for animation and have experimented with anything I can get hands on, including shorts made with cut-outs, sand, whiteboards, wool and hand drawn frames, plus several projects using large homemade hand puppets who are currently overrunning my wardrobe. At the moment I’m using my Art A Level as an excuse to make my most ambitious film yet, focussing particularly on wordless narratives. I love going to the cinema and whilst lockdown has stopped these trips I’ve taken the opportunity to watch lots of older films I'd never even heard of! I’ve also gained filmmaking experience with the BFI Academy, specialising in lens based animation, where I worked on a film crew of other young people. Elsewhere,you might find me singing in various choirs or taking part in my local Youth Theatre where there’s often opportunities to help devise and direct the performances we put on. I also waste away plenty of time cartooning and keep a notebook handy to fill with ideas I want to hold onto for later. I leapt at the opportunity to join the BBFC Youth Panel, because I’m eager to meet other young people who want to discuss film. As the first ever Youth Panel it will be fantastic to shape our role together. Furthermore, being able to intelligently choose what I watch using film classifications, particularly over the past year, has really allowed me to shape a viewing experience that delved into the areas of cinema that interest me most and let me choose what I’ve been inspired by this year. I think it’s important that everyone has the chance to do this for themselves.

Hey! I'm Kai, I'm 16. I joined the panel to get an idea how of the industry works, to learn something new, and to make some friends! I plan to use my experience and enjoyment with graphic design, video editing and writing to get into the film industry in later life as a writer/director. I'm very persistent, I'll always get things done. The best thing? There's no such thing as a short conversation with me!

Hi, I’m Lewis, and I’m so lucky and thrilled to be part of the inaugural BBFC youth panel. I’ve loved cinema for as long as I can remember. Since I’ve got older, I’ve realised I could have a career in film. Last October, I started a film review blog and now review films weekly as well as analysing scenes and more. I’m also an actor, I wrote and directed two plays with money raised from them going to charity. My work on these also led to me being awarded the gold blue peter badge. I am going to college in September where I will be studying film and media studies as-well as English literature and drama. I also did work experience at Odeon Cinemas and I am looking to get a part time job there once COVID blows over as I enjoyed it so much. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I am also able to advise regarding films that involve that subject matter and how our community could react to various portrayals. As for my favourite film- I am a massive fan of the horror and sci-fi genre. My favourite film currently (although It does change often) is Saint Maud.