Woody Allen Draws Fierce Criticism For Russian Film Festival Appearance

The globally renowned filmmaker and character Woody Allen took portion successful a Q&A pinch a pro-Vladimir Putin director. He besides appeared astatine nan Moscow International Film Week, drafting backlash from Ukraine and galore others.

The Oscar-winning producer, 89, took portion successful nan arena via a video nexus and not successful person, and participated successful an question and reply pinch Russian head Fyodor Bondarchuk, according to Euro News.   The festival’s website described nan slot arsenic an “atmosphere of a confidential dialogue” to let attendees to “touch nan soul world of nan director, understand really stories are calved that stay successful civilization for decades, and perceive thoughts that seldom look successful public.”

Allen took nan opportunity to definitive his admiration for Russian cinema and stated during nan speech that AI would ne'er beryllium capable to constitute connected nan level of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s books. The quality put him astatine likelihood pinch nan Hollywood establishment, which has embraced nan Ukraine origin during Russia’s 42-month war, pinch salient actors signing connected to nan United24 crowdfunding inaugural and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy making virtual appearances astatine past Golden Globes and Grammys ceremonies, according to AP.

‘A ugliness and an insult’

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry successful an online statement connected Monday, August 25, said that it “strongly condemns” Allen’s information successful nan festival, which “brings together supporters and mouthpieces of Putin.” 

The ministry called it “a ugliness and an reproach to nan victims among Ukrainian actors and filmmakers who person been killed aliases wounded by Russian warfare criminals,” adding that Allen “is deliberately turning a unsighted oculus to nan atrocities that Russia has been committing successful Ukraine.”

In a connection to The Associated Press connected Monday, Allen criticised Putin and denounced nan penetration but called for taste speech to continue. “When it comes to nan conflict successful Ukraine, I judge powerfully that Vladimir Putin is wholly successful nan wrong. The warfare he has caused is appalling,” Allen said. “But, immoderate politicians person done, I don’t consciousness cutting disconnected creator conversations is ever a bully measurement to help.”

Marek Magierowski, Director, Strategy for Poland Programme astatine nan Freedom Institute (think tank), said Allen is “A awesome movie director. And a morally corrupt quality being.” Woody was nan target of galore much antagonistic comments connected X.