Woody Allen responds after Russian film festival appearance condemned as a ‘disgrace’

Following backlash surrounding his appearance at Moscow International Film Week this weekend, American director Woody Allen has issued a statement saying that the war in Ukraine was “appalling.”

The 89-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker took part in the Russian film festival via video link for a Q&A session moderated by pro-Putin Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk  on Sunday 24 August.

Allen reportedly praised Russian cinema and said he would like to make a movie in Russia if he had an opportunity.

RIA Novosti reported that when asked about filming in Russia, Allen said that he had not received any proposals and that if offers were to come, he “would sit down and think about what the script could be about how well you feel in Moscow and St Petersburg.”

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned his participation, saying that Allen was giving credibility to a “bloody festival” featuring Putin’s allies and that it amounts to ignoring the daily atrocities Russia continues to carry out in Ukraine.

“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,” stated the ministry.   

“Culture must never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a propaganda tool.”

Now, in a statement to the Associated Press, Allen denounced Vladimir Putin and said that cultural conversations must continue.

“When it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, I believe strongly that Vladimir Putin is totally in the wrong,” stated Allen. “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.”

Woody Allen's last film to date was 2023's Coup de Chance, his 50th feature, which premiered at the 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival. 

In our review of the film, we wrote: "Coup de Chance becomes Match Point's clumsier French cousin, one that is more forgettable but that does build to a very satisfying conclusion. It’s no late-career highpoint, mind you, but there’s no denying that after a decade of dross, it is Woody’s most cohesive film since Blue Jasmine." 

Moscow International Film Week was launched in August 2024 and is separate from the Moscow International Film Festival, which was stripped of its International Federation of Film Producers Associations accreditation three years ago, following the invasion of Ukraine.