Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Monday on X that “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 joining 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 ministry said.
“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.”
Organizers say the event runs August 23–27 and that Allen will appear as guest of honor in an online conversation. Serbian director Emir Kusturica is also among the guests. The festival, launched last year at the initiative of Moscow authorities, aims to promote the capital as an international film center.
Allen is a four-time Oscar winner. His career has been accompanied by controversies over his private life, including accusations more than three decades ago by former partner Mia Farrow that he sexually abused their adopted daughter Dylan. Dylan later spoke about the abuse as an adult.
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Source: PAP