Royal premiere for Mandela film

The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund made the announcement about the film, which is based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, stars Idris Elba in the title role and premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last month.

The Royal and European Premiere event will take place on Dec 5 at the Odeon Leicester Square cinema, with members of the Royal Family, cast and filmmakers in attendance.

This film spans Mandela’s life, from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994. 

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is directed by Justin Chadwick and stars British actress Naomie Harris as Mandela’s second wife Winnie.

William Nicholson (Gladiator, Les Miserables) wrote the screenplay. It is produced by Anant Singh of Distant Horizon and by David M. Thompson for Origin Pictures. Executive Producers for Pathé are Cameron McCracken and Francois Ivernel.

Barry Jenkins, the president of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, said: “We are thrilled to be able to host the Royal Premiere of this momentous South African/British co-production.”

He added the fund was “most grateful to the Royal Family for their continued support” of the charity.

The Royal Film Performance is the main fundraiser for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), the trade charity for the UK film and television industries.

It provides care and financial help for industry employees and their families who suffer from hardship due to bereavement, illness, redundancy or other misfortunes.

The film will be released in UK cinemas on Jan 3, 2014.