WOODY Allen has been slammed as “disgraceful and insulting” by Ukraine for attending the Moscow film festival.
The American director, 89, drew scorn from the top of government – but he rejected the accusations and refused to apologise.
TelegramWoody Allen spoke at the Moscow International Film Week festival on Sunday alongside pro-Putin Fyodor Bondarchuk[/caption]
X / @SavchenkoReviewUkraine’s foreign ministry suggested Allen was blind to the destruction in Ukraine[/caption]
GettyAllen defenced his involvement and refused to apologise[/caption]
Allen appeared at the Moscow International Film Week via video link on Sunday and spoke to the audience.
He reportedly fawned over Russian cinema and said that he wants to make a movie in Vlad’s country.
The multiple Oscar winner told the festival: “I have been to Moscow and St Petersburg. I’ve always liked Russian cinema.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Sergei Bondarchuk a few years ago in New York.
“I watched the Russian film War and Peace which is almost seven hours long. I watched it in one day.”
Allen’s appearance came during a talk hosted by Fyodor Bondarchuk – son of Sergei Bondarchuk who directed War and Peace.
Fyodor has openly supported Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine‘s Foreign Ministry fumed: “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.”
“By taking part in a festival that brings together Putin’s supporters and voices, Allen chooses to turn a blind eye to the atrocities Russia commits in Ukraine every single day for 11 years now.
“Culture must never be used to whitewash crimes or serve as a propaganda tool.
“We strongly condemn Woody Allen’s decision to bless Moscow’s bloody festival with his address.”
Accompanying the furious dressing down was a photo of destruction in Ukraine seen through Woody Allen’s famous glasses.
The view is blurred to suggest the director is blind to to the devastation.
Allen insisted he is not a Putin supporter, but said that conversations around are must continue no matter what “politicians have done”.
X / @SavchenkoReviewAllen said he wants to make a film in Russia[/caption]
GettyThe multiple Oscar winning director said that conversations about art have to continue no matter what[/caption]
He 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.”
Allen was promoted as one of the film festival’s headliners – along with Serbian film director Emir Kusturica and American actor Mark Dacascos.
It is new on the scene after the first instalment was held just last year in the Russian capital.
It is separate from the decades-old Moscow International Film Festival – which was stripped of its recognition in 2022 by the International Federation of Film Producers after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Allen’s reputation has nosedived in recent years amid allegations of sexual abuse from his adopted stepdaughter Dylan Farrow.
APAllen was promoted as one of the headliners of the Moscow International Film Week festival[/caption]