Woody Allen Russian Film Festival Outrage Ukraine

Key Facts:

Woody Allen Interview: Woody Allen participated in a virtual interview for Moscow’s⁢ International Film ⁣Week.
Interviewer: The interviewer was Russian director Fyodor Bondartchuk, a supporter of Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian Condemnation: The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned Allen’s appearance, calling it a “disgrace and an insult” to Ukrainian actors and filmmakers‍ harmed by Russia. They accused Allen of ignoring russian atrocities and stated that culture should not be used ⁣to whitewash crimes.
Allen’s Comments: Allen reaffirmed his admiration for Russian cinema, citing Sergei Bondartchuk’s “War and Peace” as a favorite. He said he has “only good feelings for Moscow and St.Petersburg” but no plans to film in Russia.
ukrainian Campaign: Ukraine has been campaigning for Russia’s cultural isolation since the start⁤ of the war in 2022 and has denounced Western personalities‍ participating in Russian events.
Allen’s Reaction: Allen⁣ reacted to the criticism in ⁤a statement to the Guardian.