• Woody Allen appeared virtually at Moscow International Film Week, drawing condemnation from Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry criticized Allen for lending credibility to a pro-Putin event.
• Allen expressed admiration for Russian cinema while condemning the war in Ukraine.
• The festival featured speakers aligned with the Kremlin, intensifying criticism of Allen's participation.
• Allen defended cultural conversations, arguing they are vital despite the political context.

Woody Allen faced strong backlash after his virtual attendance at the Moscow International Film Week, where he praised Russian cinema. Allen stated, “I don’t feel cutting off artistic conversations is ever a good way to help,” while clearly condemning Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine as “appalling,” according to HuffPost and TRT.

The condemnation was swift from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, which characterized Allen's participation as "a disgrace and an insult" to those affected by the ongoing conflict. They criticized his decision to participate in an event that they claim “brings together supporters and mouthpieces” of Putin, essentially accusing him of ignoring “atrocities that Russia has been committing in Ukraine,” according to CBS News and Africanews.

During his virtual appearance to a packed Moscow theater, moderated by Fyodor Bondarchuk, Allen reminisced about his appreciation for Russian cinema and expressed interest in directing a film in Russia if given the opportunity. This has led to further criticisms of his engagement with a festival aligned with Kremlin narratives, deepening the divide between him and Hollywood's support for Ukraine, as stated in TRT and Africanews.

Despite the criticism, Allen reiterated that cutting off dialogue around the arts does not aid the situation, emphasizing the significance of artistic exchange, a sentiment that has drawn fire from many quarters, including prominent figures in Hollywood who strongly oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to CBS News and HuffPost.