In 2016, filmmaker Charlie Lyne staged an unusual protest against the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). His film Paint Drying—a 10-hour shot of white paint drying on a wall—was created to challenge censorship and high certification fees.
In the UK, no film can be screened in cinemas without BBFC classification. Independent filmmakers face steep fees: £101.50 plus £7.09 per minute. This makes long films particularly costly to certify.
Lyne's unique protest
To fund his protest, Lyne launched a crowdfunding campaign called Make the Censors Watch Paint Drying. Supporters raised £5,963—enough to submit all 607 minutes of footage for official classification.
Two BBFC examiners watched the film across January 25 and 26, 2016. A spokesperson said they were not “fazed” by the monotonous footage. In the end, Paint Drying received a “U” certificate, allowing it to be distributed.
More global attention
Ironically, this film attracted more global attention than Lyne’s earlier works, including Beyond Clueless (2014), a documentary about teen films, and Copycat (2015), a short film about film criticism.
Film certification in India
Lyne’s protest highlights a paradox: while the BBFC is relatively liberal compared to India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), mandatory classification still blocks smaller filmmakers from reaching audiences.
The CBFC is notorious for enthusiastic censorship, demanding cuts even in adult-rated films. In 2015, artist Babu Eeshwar Prasad’s Gali Beeja was denied certification in Bengaluru because officials said the film “did not make sense.”
If Lyne had tried his protest in India, the CBFC may well have refused outright. His 10-hour Paint Drying remains both a clever satire and a sharp reminder of how film certification systems often stifle independent voices.
Image Credits: SBS, Wikipedia, Scroll
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