Nine brings real and reel royalty together on DIFF opening night |
|
Thursday, Dec 10, 2009
Gulf News
Dubai Film royalty met genuine royalty in Dubai last night at the opening of the sixth Dubai International Film FestivalDubai International Film Festival
(DIFFDIFF), as the stars hit the red carpet for a gala screening of the musical Nine to kick off eight days celebrating the world of film.
The titan of Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan — in town to receive a lifetime achievement award from DIFFDIFF — rubbed shoulders with Queen Noor of Jordan at the gala event held at Madinat Arena. The supporting cast of Nine, dazzling in a variety of bright dresses, brought an extra touch of colour to the event in the absence of the lead cast, who were in Los Angeles for the US premiere of the film.
Before the screening of Nine, the film's all-star cast — who are in Los Angeles for the US premiere — send a video message to apologise for not being able to make it to DIFFDIFF. On screen, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman and Judi Dench joined director Rob Marshall in greeting the DIFFDIFF audience. Marshall said he was "thrilled that this movie is opening the film festival".
Bachchan said the award, honouring his four decades in the industry, was a nod to Indian cinema's contribution to the film world.
"The award is not just a recognition of my talent but also of Indian cinema," Bachchan told Gulf News.
"To get an award in a country other than your own is great recognition."
Also on the red carpet was American pop star and actress Mandy Moore, wearing a black ruffled Escada dress and Cartier jewellery. Moore will perform at the amfAR gala, a staple of DIFFDIFF which raises funds and awareness for Aids prevention, tonight.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," she said. "It will be a night of song and dance." Moore talked about her next film, an animated version of the fairy tale Rapunzel, and asked her fans to look out for it. "You have to watch it — it was so much fun to make. I love musicals."
DIFFDIFF stalwart Mammootty — who is presenting his film Kutty Srank this year — commended the festival's work. "This is a very well organised event. I'm glad to return to DIFFDIFF year after year," the South Indian star said.
Queen Noor, who wore a white jelabiya with blue embroidery, will deliver the keynote speech at the festival's Cultural Bridge panel on Sunday, which will look at the role of the media in breaking down cultural barriers. The Jordanian royal is known throughout the world for her humanitarian work.
Earlier, DIFFDIFF Chairman Abdul Hamid Juma said he was sure Queen Noor's appearance would be a big draw at the festival.
"We are honoured to have Her Majesty Queen Noor with us this year, and we look forward to a ‘full house', given her status as an inspirational role model across the Arab world and globally admired as a humanitarian."
For the next eight days the red carpet will welcome Hollywood and Bollywood actors, directors and producers as well as movie makers from the UAE, the region and the rest of the world. DIFFDIFF runs until Dec-ember 16 at the Madinat Jumeirah.
By Kelly Crane
© Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
Zawya is a distributor (and not a publisher) of content supplied by third parties and subscribers. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available by those third parties, including information providers, subscribers or other users of the Service, are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of the Company. The Company neither endorses nor is responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, advice or statement made on the Service by anyone other than authorized Service employee spokespersons while acting in their official capacities. The Company is not responsible for any infringement of intellectual property rights or breach of any applicable law or regulation, including regulation in relation to financial services or the distribution of financial products, defamation, data protection, telecommunications (including regulations relating to excessive use, spamming or other abusive activities) or obscene, offensive or illegal content). Under no circumstances will the Company be liable for any loss or damage caused by a member's reliance on information obtained through the Service. It is the responsibility of member to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content available through the Service. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific information, opinion, advice or other content.
Read the full Member Agreement
http://www.zawya.com/legal/NewsLetter.cfm?name=disclaimer
Comment on this article 
Loading ...-
Zawya encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You agree that when you add content to this discussion your comments will not:
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse. - The content posted on www.zawya.com is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Zawya. Zawya reserves the right to review all comments prior to posting and edit or delete any contribution, but Zawya is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any content posted by members of the public on www.zawya.com.
- Zawya is not responsible for the availability or content of any third party sites that are accessible through www.zawya.com. Any links to third party websites from www.zawya.com do not amount to any endorsement of that site by Zawya and any use of that site by you is at your own risk.
- By submitting your comment, you hereby give Zawya the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comments worldwide, in perpetuity.
Loading ...Stories
Companies
| Company Name | Country | Industry |
| Saudi Telecom Company | Saudi Arabia | Telecommunications Services |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Company | Saudi Arabia | Oil |
| Consolidated Contractors Company | Overseas | Construction and Design |
| Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company - Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Binladin Group | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Electricity Company | Saudi Arabia | Electric Utilities |
| Almarai Company | Saudi Arabia | Food |
| Samba Financial Group | Saudi Arabia | Banking |
| Abu Dhabi Distribution Company | UAE | Electric Utilities |
| KIA Motors Corporation Middle East and Africa | Region-wide | Transportation Products |
Projects
| Project Name | Country | Sector |
| Abu Dhabi Ports Company - Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| SATORP - Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| ADNOC - Sour Gas Fields Development - Shah Field | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| IGD - Gasco - Habshan 5 Gas Processing Plant | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) - Smelter Complex - Phase 1 | UAE | Industry |
| ENEC - Nuclear Power Plant | UAE | Power and Water |
| Vale Oman - Sohar Iron Ore Pellet Plant | Oman | Industry |
| Qatar Foundation - Sidra Medical and Research Center | Qatar | Real Estate |
| Red Sea Refining Company - Yanbu Export Refinery | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |