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Woody Allen defends his appearance at the Moscow Film Festival
Oscar winner Woody Allen defends his participation in the Moscow Film Festival despite harsh criticism from Ukraine. He emphasizes that art should build bridges, even in the midst of political conflicts.
Woody Allen defends his appearance at the Moscow Film Festival
Oscar-winning director Woody Allen has defended his participation in a Moscow film festival after facing harsh criticism from the Ukrainian government.
Woody Allen's statement
"When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I firmly believe that Vladimir Putin is completely in the wrong. The war he has caused is abhorrent," Allen said in a statement sent to CNN by his assistant on Monday. “But regardless of what politicians have done, I never feel it makes sense to shut down artistic conversations.”
Criticism of the Ukrainian government
Allen's statement came after the Ukrainian government strongly condemned his decision to appear as the festival's main guest. "Woody Allen's participation in the Moscow International Film Week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers killed or injured by Russian war criminals in the ongoing war against Ukraine," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in an earlier statement on Monday.
Details about the festival
Moscow International Film Week is sponsored by Russian state media, state-owned companies and the Moscow city government. A photo shared on the festival's official Telegram channel shows the 89-year-old filmmaker, participating in a meeting via a video call, in conversation with Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk, a Putin ally who has publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Allen's comments on Russian culture
According to the festival's press service, Allen expressed his fondness for Russian cinema and mentioned the Soviet film adaptation of “War and Peace,” directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, Fyodor Bondarchuk's father. Russian state media reported that Allen said during the meeting that he had "only good feelings for Moscow and St. Petersburg," although he had no plans to produce a film in Russia.
Reactions to Allen's performance
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed that Allen's performance at the festival showed that "Russia is not isolated." "Trying to disinvite Woody Allen to the Moscow International Film Festival over a video call misses the point: Russia is not isolated - and art should build bridges, not burn them," Dmitriev wrote in a post on X.