Local television showed Putin chatting with Seagal, Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida and Fanny Ardant of France. Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov, the film festival's president, was present as well.
Putin said the attendance of the three movie stars at the weeklong film festival, which ended Sunday, has sealed its status as an international event. He also said he hoped they would return despite this year's cold and wet summer.
Ardant said after the meeting that she was impressed with Putin.
"All political men are actors, but I liked his reserve, his simplicity, and I saw that he has an air of intelligence," Ardant was quoted by Agence France Presse as saying.
Seagal, the star of action movies such as "Under Siege" and "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory," has told the local press that he is a big admirer of Putin.
He also said his father was Russian and that he knew Russian well as a child. He conceded, however, that he now only remembers the swear words.
Meanwhile, the film festival drew to a close under a rainy sky at the Pushkinsky theater Sunday night. Seagal presented the prize for best film to Spanish director Miguel Hermoso for his "La Luz Prodigiosa," or "The End of a Mystery," a drama set during the Spanish civil war.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.