Alison Klayman, director of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, has released a statement on the occasion of the artist’s release.

Friends and fans,

Ai Weiwei has been released!

On Wednesday night, June 22nd at 10:15 pm Beijing time, Xinhua produced a statement that Ai Weiwei had been released on bail because of “his good attitude in confessing crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from.” Hours later, Ai had returned to his home-studio compound in northeastern Beijing and responded to a flurry of text messages and phone calls. He has told the Guardian and other media outlets that he is “fine” and happy to be home. The first photos of Weiwei following his release appeared in the New York Times. The conditions of Weiwei’s release have yet to be confirmed, but Weiwei’s legal counsel, Liu Xiaoyuan, did suggest over Twitter that the artist would not be allowed to exit Beijing city limits. Weiwei himself has stated that he will not be allowed to conduct interviews or use social media for at least “one year.” Many have speculated about the timing of Weiwei’s release, which occurred just days before Wen Jiabao’s visit to Hungary, Germany and Britain, countries that have been particularly critical of Weiwei’s extrajudicial detention.

The NEVER SORRY team closely watched news of Weiwei’s release. I was able to speak with Weiwei earlier today from New York. He was at his home in Caochangdi with his mother. He was happy to be home.

Four of Ai’s associates who also were detained on April 3rd remain in custody. These individuals include independent journalist Wen Tao, Ai’s accountant Hu Mingfen, Ai’s driver and cousin Zhang Jinsong and FAKE designer Liu Zhenggang. None have been formally charged.

It goes without saying that this is a momentous day. Thank you for your support over the past 80 days and we hope to have NEVER SORRY in theaters as soon as possible. Stay tuned for premier and screening information.
Best,

Alison Klayman and the Never Sorry team

Great news for Alison Klayman -

We are pleased to announced that AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY has received funding from the Cinereach Project at the Sundance Institute. The film was one of three documentaries selected. The initiative will award $1.5 million dollars to documentary and feature film projects over the next three years.

AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY is the first documentary film about detained artist-activist Ai Weiwei and has received major funding from Agnes Gund, the Hazen-Polsky Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation. The film was shot over two years by Alison Klayman and is produced in association with MUSE Film and Television.

Check out our interviews with Alison Klayman to learn more about the film.

With news of Ai Weiwei’s detainment all over international media and Chinese officials investigating Weiwei for economic crimes, the second portion of our chat with Alison Klayman, director of “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” comes amid a storm of Weiwei news. In this segment, Klayman talks about Weiwei’s process and interest in materials. Important throughout is the notion of the “idea” as the art.

Read the second part of my conversation with Alison Klayman after the jump.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is the first feature-length film about internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. With ambitious installations, including the much discussed Sunflower Seeds at Tate Modern, Weiwei’s star in the art world is equaled only by his stature as a political activist. Alison Klayman’s film examines the complexity of Weiwei as an artist and social activist, detailing preparation for major exhibitions as well as clashes with Chinese government.

With the official launch of Never Sorry coming by way of Frontline today, I am happy to begin sharing an exclusive conversation with Klayman here on Curated.

The Q&A will roll in three parts. Head to the jump for part one.