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“I’ve Always Liked Russian Cinema”: Woody Allen Appears at Moscow International Film Week
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
American filmmaker Woody Allen appeared online at the “Legends of World Cinema” session held on August 24 during Moscow International Film Week. The discussion, hosted at the MosKino venue, was moderated by Russian director Fyodor Bondarchuk.
Speaking via video link, Allen reflected on global cinema, the principles of his directing, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.
“I have always liked Russian cinema. I had the pleasure of meeting Sergei Bondarchuk a few years ago in New York. I watched the Russian film War and Peace, which runs almost seven hours. I watched it in one day,” Allen said.
When asked about the possibility of filming in Russia, Allen said he had not received any proposals. He added that if such offers were to come, he would consider a script centered on the sense of comfort in Moscow and St. Petersburg, RIA Novosti reported.
At the same time, Allen said that he was not opposed to coming to Russia and added that he had visited Moscow and St. Petersburg before, where he had a good time.
Other international guests who attended the festival in person included Serbian director Emir Kusturica and American actor and stuntman Mark Dacascos, well known for his roles in 1990s action films.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Allen’s participation in Moscow Film Festival.
In a statement, the MFA said: “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.”
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.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) August 25, 2025
By taking part in a festival that… pic.twitter.com/qQyQrqMh2z
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Allen’s participation in a festival featuring Putin’s allies amounts to ignoring the daily atrocities Russia has carried out in Ukraine for over a decade.
The ministry also emphasized that culture cannot serve as a cover for crimes or be turned into an instrument of propaganda, condemning Allen for giving credibility to Moscow’s “bloody festival” with his appearance.
Earlier, Woody Allen, announced as a headline guest, is set to participate in the Moscow International Film Week.
Organizers said the lecture-meeting would offer “a conversation about cinema and life, choice, inspiration, and honesty in the profession. The atmosphere of a confidential dialogue will allow attendees to glimpse the director’s inner world, understand how stories are born that remain in culture for decades, and hear thoughts that rarely appear in public.”
