(Michael Radford, 1984, 105 min.)

Screening licensed by arrangement with Park Circus.

The film will be introduced at Hallwalls by Professor David R. Castillo, Director of the UB Humanities Institute, professor of Spanish language and literature, and co-author (with William Egginton) of Medialogies: Reading Reality in the Age of Inflationary Media (Bloomsbury Academic, November 17, 2016).

Talking Leaves…Books will be on hand at this event with copies for sale of Orwell's 1984, David Castillo's Medialogies, and other relevant titles.

In conjunction with the first national observance of April 4th—the day in the (then) future 1984 on which the story of George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel—along with its protagonist's path to resistance—begins, Hallwalls—along with at least 160 other art house cinemas from coast to coast—will screen Michael Radford's 1984 film adaptation of 1984, starring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, & Cyril Cusack.

Co-sponsoring this exclusive WNY screening with Hallwalls are the Dept. of Visual Arts & New Media of SUNY Fredonia and the student group Cinema Alternatives, also of SUNY Fredonia. A portion of the net proceeds of this screening will be donated to the ACLU, for its work defending our democracy against the rising tide of authoritarianism in Trump's real-life dystopian America.

STATEMENT BY UNITED STATE OF CINEMA:

"On April 4, 2017, over 190 art house movie theatres across the country in 175 cities and in 44 states, plus five locations in Canada, one in England, and one in Croatia will be participating collectively in a NATIONAL EVENT DAY screening of the 1980s movie 1984 starring John Hurt (22 January 1940–25 January 2017), who sadly died earlier this year. This date was chosen because it's the day George Orwell's protagonist Winston Smith begins rebelling against his oppressive government by keeping a forbidden diary. These theaters' owners and organizations' staffs also strongly believe in supporting the National Endowment for the Arts, and see any attempt to scuttle that program as an attack on free speech and creative expression through entertainment. This event provides a chance for communities around the country to show their unity and have their voices heard.

"Orwell's novel begins with the sentence, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' Less than one month into the new presidential administration, theater owners collectively believe the clock is already striking thirteen. Orwell's portrait of a government that manufactures their own facts, demands total obedience, and demonizes foreign enemies, has never been timelier. The endeavor encourages 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.' By doing what they do best—showing a movie—the goal is that cinemas can initiate a much-needed community conversation at a time when the existence of facts and basic human rights are under attack. Through nationwide participation and strength in numbers, these screenings are intended to galvanize people at the crossroads of cinema and community, and bring us together to foster communication and resistance against current efforts to undermine the most basic tenets of our society."

"Participating theaters that charge admission will be donating a portion of the proceeds to nonprofit organizations of their choice tasked with protecting our civil liberties and defending democracy in the age of Trump."

Special thanks to Buffalo media artist and activist Marty McGee and media artist and SUNY Fredonia professor Phil Hastings (and his students) for helping arrange Hallwalls' participation in this national event.