London, Aug 25 (IANS) Ace Hollywood filmmaker Woody Allen says he started shooting movies in European cities because he could not afford to do it any more in New York.
However, the director, speaking in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo, said Manhattan poses fewer limitations than European cities, where more tailoring of the story is required to fit the location.

Allen was in Spain to attend the premiere of his romantic comedy “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger”. Shot in London, the film stars Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Antonio Banderas, telegraph.co.uk reported.

He also criticised American cinema saying the majority of films over the past decade had been made just for money and lacked creative spirit. In comparison, he said European films were much more artistic.

But the filmmaker lauded Spanish actors saying they were now among the best, singling out Banderas in this film as well as Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, with whom he worked in his 2008 movie “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”.

“I’m lucky I got to work with the very best ones,” said Allen, adding he could not afford to pay actors much but that they took part in his films because they liked to act.

Allen has recently been in Paris shooting his next movie, “Midnight in Paris”, which features French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in a minor role.