Movie Theaters to Simulcast ‘1984’

The dystopian classic will be shown in theaters across the nation

For some, watching (or reading) about life in a fictional dystopia is the best way to come to grips with our own budding calamity. In that vein, the United States of Cinema has announced plans to screen Michael Radford’s adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 for audiences at 89 theaters nationwide (plus one in Toronto — thanks for the solidarity, Canada!). According to the Guardian, the event will be held on April 4th, an homage to the date Orwell’s protagonist, Winston Smith, wrote the first entry in his illegal diary.

In a press release, the organizers said: “Orwell’s portrait of a government that manufactures their own facts, demands total obedience and demonizes foreign enemies has never been timelier.” A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be directed to local charities surrounding participating theaters.

1984 has lately become a rallying point for those who oppose the new administration. Earlier this month, we reported on the spike in sales for dystopian novels like 1984, It Can’t Happen Here, and Brave New World.

If you’re interested in attending a screening, check out the event’s website.

United States of Cinema also expressed its strong support for the National Endowment for the Arts, a program currently under threat, and says it hopes the screenings will “encourage[] theaters to take a stand for our most basic values: freedom of speech, respect for our fellow human beings, and the simple truth that there are no such things as ‘alternative facts.’”