China and the Berlinale this year, a seemingly never-ending story. Even after the end of the film festival is a Chapter richer. Responsible for: Ai Weiwei. The artist and former Berlin collects charges against a production company and the Festival. On the occasion of the film “Berlin, I Love You”, for the Ai part, even the Director has taken over. This Part was cut from the finished Film, according to the artist, so the Film can run in the Berlinale.
using Facetime from Beijing
“Berlin, I Love You”, on may 13, turned. June comes out in theaters, is part of the Film anthology “Cities of Love”, including “Paris, Je t’aime” and “New York, I Love You”. Four years ago, Ai Weiwei turned his contribution from Beijing via Facetime, at that time, the government critic, was still under house arrest. Now he had to find that his Segment was no longer included, he told the Deutsche Welle. The producers have filed “Berlin, I Love You” at the Berlinale, the participation of the artist was an exclusion criterion. According to the 61-Year-old is a sign of the growing influence of the Chinese government.
Two movies were missing Weiwei at the Berlinale
With or without Ai, the factory at the Berlinale film festival. From the pages of the festival, it is stated: in Principle, it is not external to films that are not part of the Berlinale. Also not, whether productions were submitted or not. “The participation of Ai Weiwei would be for us no criterion for the acceptance or non-acceptance of a film,” explains the Festival. Already this year two contributions from China had been withdrawn: “Better Days” from the Generation section, which tells, according to the announcement, “much of the social and private forces, the tugging of the Chinese presence to two young people”. Then, four days before the Premiere in the competition, Zhang Yimous “One Second”, a Drama from the time of the cultural revolution. Both times they would not have informed the production company of the Berlinale, the films would be ready in time, so the Festival.
producers were under pressure
Ai Weiwei is another explanation for the supposed censorship provides. The producers of “Berlin, I Love You” are involved in the development of a further part of the series: “Shanghai, I Love You”. Ai is that they fear that their chances to shoot the Film in China, could fall, if he was involved in the predecessor project. The production company has not been reach up to the editorial deadline for a Statement. Compared to the Los Angeles Times had confirmed the presentation of Weiwei and the pressure spoken of his Episode to cut out, or risk losing lenders and donors.
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Annette Kögel
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