BURT REYNOLDS - A BUNCH OF AMATEURS PICKED FOR ROYAL FILM PERFORMANCE

A BUNCH OF AMATEURS PICKED FOR ROYAL FILM PERFORMANCE

British comedy A Bunch of Amateurs has been selected as this year's Royal Film Performance.

The Queen will attend the film's gala performance at London's Leicester Square on November 17th.

A Bunch of Amateurs, starring Burt Reynolds and Sir Derek Jacobi, is to replace Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, which had been chosen for this year's performance in July, only for Warner Bros Studios to delay its release until 2009.

This year's Royal Film Performance will be the first in two years after the 2007 event was cancelled over fears of protests against the content of Brick Lane.

A Bunch of Amateurs, a "funny and ultimately moving" comedy also starring Imelda Staunton and Samantha Bond, sees Reynolds as an aging Hollywood star who comes to the UK for what he believes to be a high-profile Stratford production of King Lear.

David Murrell, president of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) who organise the gala, said: "I have no doubts that every single guest at the Royal Film Performance will greatly enjoy this film."

"We are delighted to be supporting such talented and predominantly British filmmakers and cast members," he added.

All proceeds from the Royal gala goes to families within the television and film industry who are experiencing financial difficulties.