Oscar-winning director Woody Allen has responded to criticism from the Ukrainian government by defending his decision to attend a film festival in Moscow.
“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,” said Allen in a statement sent to CNN by his assistant.
“But, whatever politicians have done, I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help.”
Allen made his statement following criticism from the Ukrainian government over his decision to headline the event over the weekend.
U.S. director Woody Allen looks on during shooting.
“Woody Allen’s participation in the Moscow International Film Week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who have been killed or injured by Russian war criminals in their ongoing war against Ukraine,” said Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement earlier Monday.
The Moscow International Film Week is sponsored by Russian state media, state-owned enterprises, and the Moscow City Government.
A photo shared on the festival’s official Telegram channel shows the 89-year-old filmmaker participating in a session via video link. He appeared in conversation with Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk, a known ally of President Vladimir Putin who has publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the festival’s press service, Allen said he liked Russian cinema, mentioning the Soviet version of “War and Peace” that was directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, Fyodor Bondarchuk’s father.
Russian state media reported that during the session Allen said that, while he has no plans to make a movie in Russia, he has “only good feelings for Moscow and St Petersburg.”
And Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev claimed that Allen’s appearance at the festival proved “Russia isn’t isolated.”
“Trying to cancel Woody Allen over a video call at the Moscow International Film Festival misses the point: Russia isn’t isolated – and art should build bridges, not burn them,” Dmitriev wrote in a post on X.
