Ai Weiwei’s Turandot – feature documentary

Buy tickets here 93 mins/ Documentary / USA / directed by Maxim Derevianko

Screening date: 17:30 / Tuesday February 17 2026

Producers: Marta Zaccaron, Christine La Monte, Andy Cohen,  Julian Lennon

Screenwriters: Maxim Derevianko, Michele Cogo

Language: Italian with Swedish Subtitles

Synopsis:
AI WEIWEI’S TURANDOT follows Chinese revolutionary artist, Ai Weiwei, as he brings his artistic vision and iconoclastic activism to Puccini’s Turandot at the Rome Opera House during his operatic directorial debut, using the opera as a backdrop to address many issues that plague mankind including the Ukraine war, refugee crises, the Covid pandemic, and more. One hundred years later, the film shows not only that Puccini’s opera is still as vital and relevant as ever, but also according to esteemed choreographer, Chiang Ching – his life-long friend featured in the film, it is also a reflection of Ai Weiwei’s life, and a fitting project for an artist known for his installations, sculpture and photography that denounce authority and champion human rights and freedom of expression.