Woody Allen‘s Moscow Film Festival Appearance Draws Sharp Condemnation from Ukraine
Moscow, Russia – Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned filmmaker Woody Allen’s planned participation in the Moscow International Film Week, calling it a “disgrace” and an “insult” to Ukrainian filmmakers impacted by the ongoing war with Russia. The rebuke comes as Allen is scheduled to address the festival, sparking international debate about cultural engagement with Russia amidst the conflict.
the Ministry’s statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 16, 2024, accused Allen of “turning a blind eye to the atrocities Russia commits in Ukraine” and warned against the use of culture as a “whitewash” for crimes or a “propaganda tool.” “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,” the statement read.
Allen’s involvement in the festival has ignited controversy, particularly given the notable loss and hardship experienced by Ukraine’s film industry. Numerous Ukrainian actors and filmmakers have been killed or injured as a direct result of Russian military actions since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and prior to that during the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region since 2014.
According to reports in Russian media outlet Kommersant, Allen stated he has no current plans to film in Russia, but expressed positive sentiments towards the country, saying he has “only good feelings for Moscow and St Petersburg.” He also reportedly praised Russian cinema, specifically citing Sergei Bondarchuk’s 1966-1967 four-part adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign language Film in 1969.
Allen’s participation in the Moscow festival arrives at a time when his filmmaking career is undergoing a significant shift. His last two films, Rifkin’s Festival (2020) and Coup de Chance (2023), were financed by European sources – Spain and France respectively – following the collapse of a four-film deal with Amazon Studios in 2019. That cancellation and subsequent legal settlement with Amazon stemmed from renewed scrutiny surrounding long-standing allegations of sexual abuse.
The allegations were initially made by Dylan Farrow in 1992, and resurfaced publicly in 2014 with an open letter published by Farrow detailing her accusations that Allen sexually abused her when she was seven years old. Allen has consistently denied the allegations and was cleared after investigations by authorities in New York and Connecticut. Though, the controversy continues to shadow his work and public image.In April 2024, Allen hinted at potential retirement, lamenting that “All the romance of film-making is gone.” Despite this, his continued presence at international film events, like the Moscow International Film Week, continues to draw attention and fuel debate.
The Moscow International Film Week, a prominent event on the Russian cultural calendar, is seen by critics as a platform for promoting the Kremlin’s agenda and bolstering support for the government. Allen’s decision to participate, therefore, has been interpreted by Ukrainian officials as a tacit endorsement of Russia’s actions and a disregard for the suffering of the Ukrainian people. The festival also screened the Russian sci-fi film Attraction in previous years.
