Back in early 2019, a movie trailer made the rounds that Berliners shocked and shaken. I’m talking about the Berlin, I Love You film starring Keira Knightly, Helen Mirren, Mickey Rourke. Our friends from Mobile Kino wanted to give all of you who never actually saw the controversial film but still wrote badly about it on the internet the chance to finally catch up and see what the fuzz is all about in an “ironic screening” on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2020, at their new temporary location at Alte Münze.
To give you the facts first: The film is a continuation of the Paris, Je T’aime and New York, I Love You format that is basically a string of unrelated love stories happening in one place and shining the light on the biggest, tackiest cliches of the respective city. Each story is like an episode and it has different, directors, cast and crew. The Berlin one has Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (who directed his episode remotely via Skype back in 2015), as well as German actor/director Till Schweiger and Dani Levy in the line-up of directors. Further famous actors include Luke Wilson, Orlando Bloom, Patrick Dempsey, Renée Zellweger, as well as German actors Sibil Kekilli, Hannelore Elsner, Robert Stadlober and German supermodel Toni Garrn.
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by Frank | Movies
photo: mompl / CC
Visitors to Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt had the chance to witness quite a spectacular event this past weekend. World-renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who recently set up his base in Berlin, transformed the columns of the Konzerthaus into pillars for refugee attention by covering them with thousands of orange life vests that had been stranded on the beach of the island Lesbos. The installation is part of the film gala “Cinema for Peace” that is happening today (February 15, 2016) and will be on site until the Tuesday after. It’s a rare opportunity to see a sight-specific artwork by Ai Weiwei in Berlin, so you should definitely go see it live if you can.
With the installation, the activist and artist wants to draw attention to the horrible suffering that refugees have to go through when escaping from the devastating situations in their home countries. It’s impressive and deeply moving – a bitter but necessary reminder of what is still going on every day not so far from the safety of our own homes.
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by Frank | Art
It doesn’t happen very often, but sometimes we are lucky to present to you events that have a very powerful message. On the 21st of May 2015 legendary folk singer Joan Baez and world-renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei – both committed activists – will be the joint recipients of Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2015. Prominent presenters of the honorific speech will be Patty Smith and Chris Dercon (upcoming General Director of Volksbühne).
Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award is the organization’s top honour, recognizing those who have shown exceptional leadership in the fight for human rights, through their life and work. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Berlin at Haus der Berliner Festspiele. Continuing in the proud tradition of Amnesty supporting musicians who have gone before them, Academy Award winning songwriter Glen Hansard, German singer/songwriter Clueso and one of the finest voices in soul and blues, Jo Harman, will perform at the award ceremony for Joan Baez and Ai Weiwei.
We are giving away 2×2 free tickets for the event which you can also buy tickets for here. More after the jump.
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by Claudio | Art, Music
Ai Weiwei is one of the currently most renowned artists in the world. That isn’t simply due to his mostly conceptual art, but especially because of his political activism. Ai Weiwei lives and works in Beijing, China and criticises the communist government through his art, on his blog, on Twitter and in plenty of interviews. He’s walking on very thin ice and in 2011 was arrested and held under false pretext at an undisclosed place, without even his closest relatives knowing if he was still alive. At this time an international protest formed to free Ai Weiwei and at least since he has been known outside the artworld as well. While people on the streets were shouting out: “Free Ai Weiwei“ young journalist and documentary filmmaker Alison Klayman was sitting in the editing booth piecing together what would become her first feature film Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. She had accompanied and interviewed the artist for three years and gotten insights to his thinking, private life and working process. Last night I went to see the films with Claudio…
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by Lia | Art, Entertainment, Movies, People
