Overview

• Ukraine's foreign ministry called his participation a disgrace and an insult to Ukrainian actors and filmmakers harmed by Russia's war.
• Allen appeared by videoconference on August 24 as a principal guest of the Moscow event, which runs August 23–27.
• The talk was moderated by pro‑Kremlin filmmaker Fyodor Bondarchuk, and Russian state television showed Allen speaking to a packed theater.
• RIA Novosti reported he would consider filming in Russia if invited, though other outlets reported he said such a project was not in his plans.
• International participants include Emir Kusturica and Mark Dacascos, underscoring scrutiny of Western involvement in Russian cultural events since the 2022 invasion.