The Ukrainian government condemned American filmmaker Woody Allen for appearing at Moscow International Film Week.
“This is a shame and an insult to the victims of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who were killed or injured by Russian war criminals during the Russian aggression against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
“By participating in a festival that unites Putin supporters and mouthpieces, Allen is deliberately turning a blind eye to the atrocities that Russia has been committing in Ukraine every day for 11 years. Culture should never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a tool of propaganda,” the ministry added.
On Sunday, Allen spoke during an online session alongside some of Russia’s top movie directors, cinematographers and actors, many of whom, including director Fyodor Bondarchuk, who interviewed Allen, have publicly supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Allen — who has won four Oscars — talked about AI and described a visit to the USSR as a grim experience, but also praised Russian cinema and said he could potentially make a movie in Russia, although he has not yet received any offers to do so, Russian media reported.
“If there were similar proposals, I would sit down and think about what the script could be about how well you feel in Moscow and St. Petersburg,” Allen said.
Defending his decision to take part in the festival in a statement sent to the Guardian, Allen 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.”
