Behind the Mask: Coronation online screening March 17th – 21st, 2021

Available in Germany

Coronation - A film by Ai Weiwei

Coronation examines the political spectre of Chinese state control from the first to the last day of the Wuhan lockdown. The film takes us into the heart of these temporary hospitals and ICU wards, documenting the entire process of diagnosis and treatment. Patients and their families are interviewed, reflecting their thinking about the pandemic and expressing anger and confusion over the state’s callous restriction of their liberties. The footage was made by different film-crews across China, some paid, some volunteers and directed remotely from UK by AI Weiwei.

Part of the Conference BEHIND THE MASK: Whistleblowing During the Pandemic (18-20 March)

freely live-streamed - no ticket needed. Details & to join the stream see https://www.disruptionlab.org/behind-the-mask

On 18 March, the conference programme will include, amongst others:

15:10–15:30 · FILM INTERVIEW CORONATION

Conversation with Ai Weiwei (Artist & Activist, CN) and Jess Search (Chief Executive of Doc Society, UK). Introduced by Roberto Perez-Rocha (Director for the International Anti-Corruption Conference Series at Transparency International, MEX/DE).

15:30–17:00 · PANEL: DEFENDING THE TRUTH IN THE PANDEMIC: Is Whistleblowing the Magic Wand?

Thuli Madonsela (Professor, Stellenbosch University, Former Public Protector of South Africa, ZA), María de los Ángeles Estrada (Executive Director of the Transparency and Anti-corruption Initiative, MX), Stefano Fusco (Co-founder, Noi Denunceremo / We Denounce - Truth and Justice Committee for Covid-19 Victims, IT). Moderated by Roberto Perez-Rocha (Director for the International Anti-Corruption Conference Series at Transparency International, MEX/DE).

Whistleblowing, or the act of exposing wrongdoing has different legal, political, and social connotations depending on where you are. As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused harm to societies at large, where the most vulnerable and under resourced have suffered the most, defending the truth has become a matter of survival. But it can be dangerous too, even deadly.