Jordan Buie

jbuie@tennessean.com

The controversial Hollywood comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen would likely have never seen the light of a projector in Nashville's hip, independent Belcourt Theatre.

Stephanie Silverman, the executive director of the theater, said the major commercial release of Sony Pictures' "The Interview," did not sound attractive and was not compatible with its art-house style.

But the little independent theater on Belcourt Avenue now hopes to be among the first to screen the film in a stand for freedom of expression.

"At this point, it doesn't really matter if it is a good or bad movie," she said. "Now, it is about supporting our rights to view it."

The film about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was scheduled for release Christmas Day.

The movie was deemed controversial by critics when early details were released that the film depicted the killing of a sitting world leader.

Publicity for the film resulted in a massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures, perpetrated by the North Korean government, according to an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI said threats have also been aimed toward theaters that show the movie.

"We recognize that Sony has been handed a world of hurt in the last several weeks," Silverman said. "A lot of hard decisions had to be made. Our commercial theater counterparts also had to make really hard decisions with threats being made to audiences. What we are saying now is that it is important that the film be shown period because it is core to our values."

Silverman said the Belcourt Theatre is among a coalition of theaters across the country known as the Art House Convergence who have sent an open letter to Sony requesting to show the film.

"Your Art House motion picture colleagues wish to support you and your company," Russ Collins, Director of Art House Convergence wrote to Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal at Sony Pictures. "Circumstance has propelled THE INTERVIEW into a spotlight on values, both societal and artistic, and in honor of our support, we want to offer our help in a way that honors our long tradition of defending creative expression."

The statement can be viewed at the website www.arthouseconvergence.org.

Silverman said the Belcourt Theatre is a founding member of the Art House Convergence group.

Contact reporter Jordan Buie at 615-726-5970 or on Twitter @jordanbuie