The Royal Film Performance is a trademarked event owned by The Film and Television Charity,[1] formerly known as the Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund CTBF (from 1964 to 2017) and previously the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund (from its inception in 1924).[2] The events showcases a major film premiere and is attended by members of the British Royal Family. The proceeds from the event help the charity to offer financial support to people from the film, TV and cinema industries.
The event began in 1946, as the Royal Command Film Performance, with a screening of A Matter of Life and Death. The charity first received Royal Patronage in 1936, and so the idea of a Royal screening was born. The original date of the first event was due to be 18 October 1939, to be called the Royal Cine-Variety Performance, and was postponed due to the outbreak of World War 2.
The "Royal Command" name was changed from 1949, to Royal Film Performance, on the basis that the choice of film was that of the CTBF rather than the Royal Family.[3] There was no performance between 2015 and 2019 while the CTBF was reformed as The Film and Television Charity.[4] There was no event in 2020-2021 due to the global pandemic.
The most recent Royal Film Performance was the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on 19 May 2022. The event was attended by The Duke, and the Duchess of Cambridge.[5] There was no event in 2023 due to the writers’ and US actors’ strikes. The next event is planned for 2024, which is also the centenary of The Film and Television Charity.