Opening Night Film & Reception!

Filmmaker Alison Klayman in person!

Filmmaker Alison Klayman paints a larger picture of the artist as an individual and as a powerful voice against the Chinese government’s denial of its average citizens’ basic freedoms. Klayman chronicles the complexities of Ai’s life for three years, beginning with his rise to public prominence via blog and Twitter after he questioned the deaths of more than 5,000 students in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Ai Weiwei always makes his opposition to silence and oppression public. And his appearances on Twitter and the unsparing truths he airs in his blog often lead to police harassment. But even then he never gives up, and instead films his official minders with his video camera and publishes his footage on the web. An official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. New York premiere followed by Opening Night reception. Screening followed by discussion with Alison Klayman, Filmmaker; Sophie Richardson, China Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch; and Tong Yi, former activist in China, licensed attorney in the US. Moderated by Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives, Human Rights Watch.

“I feel like a chess player. My opponent makes a move and then I make the next one.” —Ai Weiwei