Ukraine has sharply criticized American filmmaker Woody Allen for taking part in a Russian film festival, calling it a normalization of the crimes committed by Moscow since the start of the invasion in 2022.
Monday, Ukraine denounced Allen’s virtual appearance at the Moscow International Film Festival, calling it "an insult" to the victims of the Russian invasion.
The 89-year-old director—largely shunned by much of Hollywood due to longstanding sexual assault allegations made by his adopted daughter—spoke on Sunday during an online event of the Moscow International Film Week.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called his appearance “a shame and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who have been killed or injured by Russian war criminals.”
“Woody Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Russia is committing in Ukraine,” the ministry said, stressing that culture should never “be used to whitewash crimes.”
Since Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraine has called for the country to be fully isolated on the international stage—including in the fields of culture and sports.
Kyiv regularly condemns the rare appearances of Western figures at events in Russia.
The session featuring Woody Allen was moderated by Russian filmmaker Fyodor Bondarchuk, a vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin.
According to Russian state media RIA Novosti, Allen said he would consider shooting a film in Russia if offered the opportunity. “If such proposals existed, I would sit down and think about a script that reflects the joy one can feel in Moscow and Saint Petersburg,” he reportedly said.
Allen also mentioned a "not very pleasant" trip to the Soviet Union in the past, adding that “everything has changed—Russia has become wonderful.”
Woody Allen, a master of comedy and social satire, has almost entirely stopped filming in the U.S.
With AFP
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