Overview

• Allen joined the festival by video on Sunday for a talk moderated by Fyodor Bondarchuk, a Kremlin‑aligned filmmaker under Western sanctions for supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
• The Ukrainian foreign ministry labeled the participation a shame and an insult to Ukrainian victims and accused Allen of ignoring Russian atrocities since 2014.
• During the session, Allen praised Russian cinema and expressed admiration for Sergei Bondarchuk, while avoiding political remarks and declining to say whether he would film in Russia.
• Reports from Western outlets note no subsequent response or apology from Allen beyond his on‑screen appearance.
• The controversy unfolds against years of cultural boycotts linked to Russia’s war, with coverage also recalling long‑standing allegations that have left Allen widely shunned in much of the U.S. film industry.