ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Ai Weiwei appears in clandestine sci-fi film 'The Sand Storm'

digital · 2026-04-20

Ai Weiwei features in a secretive short sci-fi film titled 'The Sand Storm', directed by Jason Wishnow. Filmed covertly in Beijing, the project required discretion due to Ai's dissident status. Wishnow launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking funding for post-production expenses. In the film, Ai portrays a smuggler navigating a dystopian world devoid of water. The filmmaker, known for his work on 'Ted Talks', disclosed these details through the crowdfunding initiative. The production was completed without public announcement, highlighting the artist's continued engagement with cinematic ventures despite political constraints. The campaign aims to finalize the film for potential release, marking another collaborative effort in Ai's diverse artistic output.

Key facts

  • Ai Weiwei stars in a short sci-fi film called 'The Sand Storm'
  • Jason Wishnow wrote and directed the film
  • The film was shot secretly in Beijing
  • Ai Weiwei plays a smuggler in a waterless world
  • A Kickstarter campaign seeks post-production funding
  • The campaign was set up by Jason Wishnow
  • Wishnow is a filmmaker associated with 'Ted Talks'
  • The secrecy was due to Ai Weiwei's dissident status

Entities

Artists

  • Ai Weiwei
  • Jason Wishnow

Institutions

  • Kickstarter

Locations

  • Beijing
  • China

Sources