Tag: Ai Weiwei

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Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case, May 16-22 at New York’s IFC Center

You are cordially invited to see a new daring documentary about the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, premiering in New York’s IFC CENTER on May 16th!

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AI WEIWEI THE FAKE CASE

a documentary by Andreas Johnsen 

+DIRECTOR Q&As ALL OPENING WEEKEND+

US premiere May 16th at NYC’s IFC Center

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Join the [Facebook Event] for an advance ticket link!

[ Trailer | Website | Facebook | Twitter ]

A LIFE LIVED IN SILENCE IS NOT A LIFE.

Named Best Documentary of 2014 by the Danish Film Critics’ Association

After 81 days of solitary detention world famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is put under house arrest. He suffers from sleeping disorder and memory loss, 18 cameras are monitoring his studio and home, police agents follow his every move, and heavy restrictions from the Kafkaesque Chinese authorities weigh him down.  Picking up where Alison Klayman’s Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry left off, AI WEIWEI THE FAKE CASE is more explicitly political, reflecting Ai’s battle against the gigantic lawsuit thrust upon him by the Chinese government in an effort to silence him.  Ai Weiwei is shaken, but during his year on probation he steadily finds new ways to provoke and challenge the mighty powers of the Chinese authorities in his fight for human rights and free expression.  The film also features the creation of S.A.C.R.E.D., a new work depicting Ai’s time in prison, which premiered during the Venice Biennale and is now on view at the Brooklyn Museum.

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“POWERFUL.  MOVING.  ABSORBING.  The world’s press turns off their cameras, but it is here that Andreas Johnsen’s film begins. FASCINATING.”- Mark Adams, Screen

“Picks up where Alison Klayman’s Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry left off, serving as not just an update, but an EVEN MORE GALVANIZING call for reform.  Ai’s voice carries louder than ever before.” – Peter Debruge, Variety

“INTIMATE.  TOPICAL.”- Neil Young, Hollywood Reporter

Other Screenings

San Francisco, CA – Starts 5/23 at Landmark Opera Plaza

Berkeley, CA – Starts 5/23 at Landmark Shattuck

Santa Fe, NM – Starts 5/23 at Contemporary Arts Center

Los Angeles, CA – Starts 6/6 at Laemmle Royal

Portland, OR – Starts 6/6 at Northwest Film Forum

Chicago, IL – Starts 6/13 at Gene Siskel Film Center

Miami, FL – Starts 6/27 at O Cinema

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ASIAN AMERICAN GROUPS HOSTED A MOVIE NIGHT TO SEE AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY

From Julie Huang, PR professional and President of Kaimen Company (and AABANY member):

On Wednesday , August 1, Asian American organizations [including AABANY] hosted a special Movie Night at the IFC Center to see Alison Klayman critically-acclaimed new documentary film, “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry”.  Many attendees took advantage of the IFC promo code at the box office for this particular showing of the film. Others who cared more about convenience than the IFC community ticket promo bought their tickets on www.movietickets.com ahead of time.

One of the Asian American groups, Asian Cinevision, included this message, in its event announcement, “AI WEI WEI NEVER SORRY follows Ai Wei Wei, a political delinquent, who challenges the notion of freedom through his art and conceptual work. In a country that celebrates censorship, he makes us imagine possibilities beyond limitations: what does it mean to use art as a political tool? Ultimately, he puts out a call for transparency, but how will the Chinese government respond?”

Based on our count, 150 people came out. The crowd was multigenerational and multicultural with a wide range of reactions to the film. Attendees we spoke with told us they have no idea about what Ai Weiwei faced in China.  Like what Ai Weiwei said in the film, “If it is not publicized, then it is like it never happened.” So if this film was not made or if the video footage was not taken or if people have not watched this film, then how would they know what happened.  Where’s the proof, baby?  I wrote some more about this film in this blog post, "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry – Do not Wei to see this! Ai Weiwei.“  If you are looking for a more intelligent write-up, read Sue Lain Moy’s ”No Need to Apologize: Alison Klayman’s documentary, AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, is a work of art and Ryan Wong’s Portrait of an Artist as a Activist | Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.

On a yummy note, the @NesquikLiveNYC street team were nearby to hand out free bottles of Nesquik chocolate milks! Some of the moviegoers got their chocolate fix on Nesquik.  Thanks Nesquik. 

It was a wonderful night – chocolate milk and all!

Not in NYC and would like to see the film? Visit this page for listings in your area.

      julie       FeliCity

 with support from the

and special thanks to

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