In an episode of the sci-fi cult show entitled The High Ground, Dr Beverly Crusher is taken hostage while helping the wounded victims of a terrorist attack on "a non-aligned planet".

And, reflecting upon what happened to the Starship Enterprise's chief medical officer, android Data says that Ireland would be reunified in 2024 as a result of a successful terrorist campaign.

East Belfast DUP councillor and Assembly member Robin Newton last night branded the proposed showing of the 1990 film- which hasn't been broadcast on terrestrial TV in the UK or Ireland - as "an attack" on unionism.

"The sci-fi Star Trek imaginary tale of other worlds and strange creatures making political forecasts that are now proven to be as implausible as the basis of this invented story will cause no concern to unionists," said Mr Newton.

"When this film was in production back in 1990 anyone forecasting the prospect of Sinn Fein decommissioning their guns, supporting the police, recognising the courts and taking ministerial positions within the UK's Stormont administration would have been looked upon as not living in the real world."

Mr Newton added, however, that these are now "political facts" and said "the DUP-negotiated unionist gains have increased self-belief within the unionist community".

He added: "Whether it is from partisan fictional propaganda or a party line political source unionist confidence can withstand the attack."

Director of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Sean Kelly, said: " We're not showing it in a partisan way and we certainly don't want it to be seen as any kind of propaganda. We're showing it because of the issues it raises in relation to censorship.

He added: "It's hard to believe... but both the BBC and RTE refused to show it and it still hasn't been shown on terrestrial TV in the UK or Ireland."