Oscar-winning American filmmaker, actor and comedian Woody Allen appeared at the Moscow International Film Week, headlining the ‘Legends of World Cinema’ programme. The 89-year-old took part in the event via a video link, with Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk moderating the conversation.
Allen expressed his admiration for Russian cinematic art during the conversation and said that artificial intelligence will never be able to create works of the same level as Dostoevsky’s novels, Russian state media reported.
Allen’s camp has remained silent, but his cameo has triggered widespread outrage. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the director’s involvement, stressing that Allen’s presence gave credibility to a festival that “features Putin’s allies and ignores the daily atrocities committed by Russia in Ukraine.”
“Woody Allen’s participation in the Moscow International Film Week is a shame and an insult to the victims of Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who were killed or injured by Russian war criminals,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. “Culture should never be used to whitewash crimes or for propaganda purposes,” it added.
