The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sharply condemned American filmmaker Woody Allen on Monday for participating virtually in the Moscow International Film Week, a film festival held in Russia. Allen’s video appearance drew strong rebuke from Kyiv, which labeled it “a disgrace and an insult” to Ukrainians suffering under Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Russian media broadcast footage of Allen addressing a crowded theater via video conference, with prominent Kremlin-aligned director Fyodor Bondarchuk hosting the event. Allen praised Russian cinema, reminisced about past visits to the Soviet Union, and discussed hypothetical plans to direct a film in Russia—remarks Ukraine deemed highly inappropriate amid ongoing conflict.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing Allen of ignoring “atrocities that Russia has been committing in Ukraine” and participating in an event that “brings together supporters and mouthpieces of Putin.” The ministry cited the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers at the hands of Russian forces, calling Allen’s involvement a betrayal of the artistic community.
In response, Allen issued a statement to the Associated Press condemning the war and criticizing Vladimir Putin, saying, “The war he has caused is appalling.” However, he defended his appearance at the festival, asserting, “I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help.”
Moscow International Film Week, a new event launched in August 2024, is separate from the long-standing Moscow International Film Festival. The latter was stripped of accreditation by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Allen was promoted as a headline speaker for the festival, alongside Serbian director Emir Kusturica—an open Putin supporter—and American actor Mark Dacascos. Kusturica has received honors from the Kremlin and appeared at a military parade earlier this year.
Allen’s historical admiration for Russian culture and literature has long influenced his work. Films like Love and Death and Crimes and Misdemeanors parody and reflect themes found in the writings of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. However, his critics argue that appreciation for Russian art does not excuse engagement with state-sponsored events in a country waging war.
Ukraine’s firm rebuke reflects a broader strategy of isolating Russian cultural institutions, especially those seen as aligned with the regime. Hollywood and major Western cultural figures have largely sided with Ukraine, with high-profile support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and fundraising efforts through the United24 initiative.
