From Abu Dhabi to Beirut via the red carpet at Emirates Palace

Stars took to the red carpet at the Emirates Palace on Thursday night for the opening of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Emirati director Ali F Mostafa walks the red carpet on the way to see the world premiere of his second film, From A to B, on the opening night of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Mona Al Marzooqi / The NaShow more

ABU DHABI // Amid a haze of flashbulbs and a healthy dose of pzazz, the eighth Abu Dhabi Film Festival was officially declared open for business last night.
Scores of celebrities from across the world walked the red carpet at Emirates Palace in front of rows of fans screaming every new arrival like their life depended on it.
But there was one film, and one filmmaker, for which the highest vocal pitches were reserved – the UAE's own Ali F Mostafa, and the long-awaited world premiere of his second picture, From A to B.
The historic production marks the first time an Emirati film has opened a major international festival.
For one of the movie's stars, Fahad Albutairi, it was an extra-special evening, marking the Saudi's comedian's first outing as an actor in a feature film.
"It's a bit too surreal," he said from the red carpet. "I'm super-excited to watch the movie, and see what the actors and actresses here [at the festival], that are legends in our Arab world, will think about it.
"It is an amazing experience and I'm so happy that Ali has chosen me to be part of it.
"[The title is short for] From Abu Dhabi to Beirut – so where better to start off than Abu Dhabi?"
The film has already picked up one curious, and influential, fan.
Veteran producer Edward Pressman, in town to pick up a much-deserved Career Achievement Award, boasts an incredible CV of more than 80 films, including American Psycho and Wall Street. But the Hollywood movie mogul was still looking forward to Mostafa's second picture.
"What I'm most excited about at this festival is seeing the first Emirati film to open a festival – I saw a trailer today and it looked promising," he said.
"There's a lot of talent in the region for sure."
A warm but breezy night, there was an electric atmosphere on the red carpet as a steady stream of famous faces from across the Arab world strolled by, many stopping to pose for pictures and chat with fans.
Among them was Tunisian singer and actor Latifah, Egyptian stars Hassan Youssef, Samir Sabry, Nabila Obaid and Poussi, Syria's Soulafa Memar and Kosai Khouly, and Lebanese singer Walid Tawfik.
Closer to home, guests from the GCC included Kuwaiti actors Abdulhussain Abdulredha, Mohammed Al Mansour and Dawood Hussain, Omani name Ibrahim Al Zadjali and the UAE's Huda Al Khatib,
Attendance to the opening night was by invitation only, but today public screenings at the ADFF officially begin, with 197 films to be screened at Vox Marina Mall and Emirates Palace over the next nine days.
Films will be screening in a number of competition categories. Ali Suliman, a Palestinian actor who appeared in the UAE-shot Body of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio, is in town to sit on the Narrative Feature Competition jury panel alongside Indian superstar Irrfan Khan.
He said: "The selection at the festival is really very good – it's hard for me to sit on a jury and choose which one is going to be the winner."
Mauritanian director Abderrahmane Sissako won two awards at Cannes and picked up widespread praise for his movie Timbuktu, but said he was excited to bring the picture to audiences at the ADFF, attracted by the opportunity to meet emerging filmmakers from the region.
He said: "To bring the movie anywhere is a good thing, but especially in this part of the world because cinema is very new for many people here, and it's important to take the view of not only Hollywood."
As part of the opening ceremony Oscar-nominated French-Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb was honoured by the festival with a Career Achievement Award.
Elsewhere, a touch of glamour came from Carmen Chaplain, granddaughter of the great Charlie Chaplin. She appeared on the red carpet in a long, flowing black dress. "I'm here to see movies," she said. "There's a very good selection, some directors I know, some I don't know – and I'm so excited."
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