Woody Allen defends appearance at Moscow Film Festival amid Ukraine condemnation
American filmmaker Woody Allen has released a statement in defence of his decision to participate in a Moscow film festival amid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
On August 24th, Allen appeared at Moscow International Film Week remotely, partaking in a session hosted by filmmaker Fyodor Bondarchuk. Bondarchuk is a long-term political ally of Vladimir Putin. He has directed patriotic epics that embolden his viewpoint, such as Stalingrad and Attraction.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to his participation via a statement on social media, writing: “Woody Allen’s participation in the Moscow international film week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and film-makers who have been killed or injured by Russian war criminals in their ongoing war against Ukraine.”
It continued, “By taking part in a festival that brings together Putin’s supporters and voices, Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Russia commits in Ukraine every single day for 11 years now. Culture must never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a propaganda tool.”
The statement finished adamantly, “We strongly condemn Woody Allen’s decision to bless Moscow’s bloody festival with his address.”
This comes after claims in Russian media that Allen has stated that he harbours “only good feelings for Moscow and St Petersburg” and that he admired Russian cinema. He picked out the four-film adaptation of War and Peace, directed by Bondarchuk’s father, as one of his favourites.
However, Allen reportedly did stress that he had no plans to make a film in Russia. In 2024, Allen publicly pondered retirement, explaining that “all the romance of film-making is gone.”
Allen refuted the ministry’s claims via a statement to the Guardian, where he said, “When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong. The war he has caused is appalling. But, whatever politicians have done, I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help.”
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