International Competition

Human Flow

Ai Weiwei
Screening time  
28.02. / Wednesday, 21:00 - 23:00 Theatre 1  
01.03. / Thursday, 14:30 - 17:00 Theatre 1  
02.03. / Friday, 11:30 - 14:00 Theatre 3  
04.03. / Sunday, 22:00 - 00:00 Theatre 2  
04.03. / Sunday, 22:00 - 00:00 Theatre 4  
This stunningly cinematic documentary chronicles the staggering breadth of the global refugee crisis with uncommon insight and empathetic artistry.

Directed by artist-activist Ai Weiwei and filmed in 40 refugee camps in 23 countries, this stunningly cinematic documentary, reminiscent of the work of Edward Burtynsky, chronicles the staggering breadth of the global refugee crisis with uncommon insight and empathetic artistry. Ai oversaw the work of 25 film crews in Afghanistan, Mexico, Bangladesh, France, Greece, Germany, Lebanon and other countries to capture the condition of today’s more-than-65-million displaced individuals as they look for a place to call home. To profoundly moving effect, footage of the camps is interwoven with personal testimonies from those forced from their native lands due to war, famine and climate change.

Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is Chinese artist born in 1957 in Beijing, China. He is a director and producer, known for his feature debut Human Flow (2017), Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 (2014) and Stay Home (2013). He immersed his political activism into his art, fought an authoritarian regime, and consistently defends freedom of expression, which in turn has rendered him not just an important Chinese figure but also an important global figure. His most notable artistic achievements are his massive art installations such as Sunflower Seeds.

General sponsor

Human Flow

Germany, USA
2017, 140'

Directed by:
Ai Weiwei

Screenplay by:
Boris Cheshirkov, Tim Finch, Chin-Chin Yap

Cinematography:
Zanbo Zhang, Xie Zhenwei

Edited by:
Nils Pagh Andersen

Music:
Karsten Fundal

Producers:
Heino Deckert, Ai Weiwei, Chin-Chin Yap

Produced by:
24 Media Production Company, AC Films, Ai Weiwei Studio, Ginger Ink and Halliday Finch, Green Channel, HighLight Films, Human Flow, Maysara Films, Optical Group Film & TV Productions, Participant Media, Redrum Production, Ret Film

Festivals & Awards:

Venice International Film Festival 2017 – CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Award, Fair Play Cinema Award – Special Mention, Fondazione Mimmo Rotella Award, Human Rights Film Network Award – Special Mention, Leoncino d'Oro Agiscuola Award – Cinema for UNICEF, Bambi Awards 2017 – Bambi for Courage; Toronto International Film Festival 2017; IDFA 2017; Edmonton International Film Festival 2017; Calgary International Film Festival 2017; Valladolid International Film Festival 2017; Hamptons International Film Festival 2017; Hamburg Film Festival 2017; Adelaide Film Festival 2017; Vancouver International Film Festival 2017