BBFC and Paramount Pictures UK launches Create The Card Competition for Sonic the Hedgehog 3
September 9, 2024
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has announced 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 has 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, added: “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.”