{"id":76959,"date":"2014-12-24T07:34:26","date_gmt":"2014-12-24T07:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=76959"},"modified":"2014-12-24T07:34:26","modified_gmt":"2014-12-24T07:34:26","slug":"obama-hails-interview-screenings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/12\/obama-hails-interview-screenings\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama hails ‘The Interview’ screenings"},"content":{"rendered":"
US President Barack Obama has welcomed a decision by Sony to screen a comedy about North Korea in a limited number of US cinemas on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
He had earlier criticised Sony for pulling the film following a cyber-attack and threats against cinemas.<\/p>\n
The US has accused North Korea of being behind the cyber-attack.<\/p>\n
The film is expected to show in 200 mostly independent and art-house cinemas on Thursday. Hackers have threatened fresh attacks.<\/p>\n
Mr Obama had called Sony’s earlier decision to cancel the film’s release a “mistake”.<\/p>\n
His spokesman, Eric Schultz, said in a statement that the president applauded the change of mind.<\/p>\n
“As the president made clear, we are a country that believes in free speech, and the right of artistic expression,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
“The decision made by Sony and participating theatres allows people to make their own choices about the film, and we welcome that outcome.”<\/p>\n
North Korea has denied that it was behind the cyber-attack on Sony. But it praised the attack and had long condemned The Interview, which depicts a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.<\/p>\n
The Interview was originally due to be released on up to 3,000 screens on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said his company had “never given up” on a release, and was continuing efforts to have the film shown more widely.<\/p>\n