If anyone's read George Orwell's 1984, they'll know that the novel opens on Winston Smith writing a diary - an act punishable by death in the dystopian future - on a specific date; April 4th.

90 cinemas in the US, across 74 cities and in 34 states, will host a special screening of the film version of 1984 starring John Hurt and Richard Burton. The event, organised by United States Of Cinema, is in protest of Donald Trump's policies against the National Endowment for Arts, which the organisers believe that "any attempt to scuttle that program as an attack on free speech and creative expression through entertainment."

"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.”

Just for comparison, it's currently estimated that it would cost the US taxpayer $183 million annually just for the protection detail for Melania and Barron Trump at Trump Tower in New York. The NEA's budget in 2015 was $146 million.

If you're in the US on April 4th, here's a list of cinemas screening the film.