Source:Paramount Pictures

October 15, 2009

The Lovely Bones, based on the critically acclaimed best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and directed by Academy Award-winner Peter Jackson, has been selected for the Royal Film Performance 2009. The World Charity Premiere will take place in late November in Leicester Square.

The Lovely Bones stars Academy Award-nominee Mark Wahlberg (Jack Salmon), Academy Award-winner Rachel Weisz (Abigail Salmon), Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon (Grandma Lynn), Stanley Tucci (George Harvey), Michael Imperioli (Len Fenerman) and Academy Award-nominee Saoirse Ronan (Susie Salmon), many of whom are expected to attend along with members of the Royal Family.

The Lovely Bones is a DreamWorks and Film4 presentation of a Wingnut Production and is distributed by Paramount Pictures worldwide, on general release in the UK in January 2010. The film centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

CTBF President David Murrell said: "We are delighted to be able to premiere a film of such distinction for the Royal Film Performance 2009. This will be a truly world-class event, attended by an internationally acclaimed director and cast and members of the Royal Family. We are truly grateful to Paramount Pictures for arranging this special premiere two months ahead of UK release and to the Royal Family for their unstinted support of this exceptional fundraising event.

Director Peter Jackson added: "I am honored that 'The Lovely Bones' has been selected to be this year's Royal Gala film, in support of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. This film has been an extraordinary journey, for myself as a filmmaker and for all of those who worked on it. On behalf of everyone involved, we are thrilled that Their Royal Highnesses and the CTBF audience will be amongst the first people in the world to see it."

The Royal Film Performance™ is the principal fundraising event of The Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF). All money raised from the event will go directly to the charity, which supports film and TV employees and their families in times of hardship. Details of how to purchase tickets will be available on the CTBF website.