- Title: UAE: Hollywood and Arab stars arrive for Abu Dhabi Film Festival
- Date: 15th October 2010
- Summary: ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 14, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** ABU DHABI FILM FESTIVAL GARDEN ABU DHABI FILM FESTIVAL SIGN RED CARPET VARIOUS OF HOLLYWOOD ACTOR ADRIEN BRODY ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, ADRIEN BRODY, SAYING "I am very honoured that I have been welcomed back and I had a beautiful, one of the more relaxing day
- Embargoed: 30th October 2010 13:00
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- Reuters ID: LVA2ESUEA23Y1DH1D6M2HHY2GJ95
- Story Text: The Abu Dhabi International Film Festival opened in the UAE's capital on Thursday night (October 15) at the glitzy Emirates Palace hotel where a traditional red carpet event was held for the hollywood and Arab stars attending the festival's fourth edition.
At the festival for the second year in a row was Actor Adrien Brody, here for the world premiere of his new film, "Wrecked" by director Michael Greenspan.
"I am very honoured that I have been welcomed back and I had a beautiful, one of the more relaxing days I have had for a long time today so," the 37-year old actor said as he walked down the red carpet.
Screams could be heard in the distance as British actor, Clive Owen entered the festival hall.
Owen who starred in "Children of Men", "Sin City" and "Inside men" was hounded by reporters and photographers keen to speak to him.
"It's my second time this year, I came for the Sports Awards and I had the most amazing time I was literally here for five days surrounded by some of the greatest sportsmen in the world, I am quite into sports, so I had a very good time," Owen said.
Arab stars from across the region including Egypt's Yosra and Syria's Saloom Haddad, also attended the opening night emphasizing the importance of such events in raising the region's cultural profile.
"Festivals like this help a lot and in many ways and not just Abu Dhabi, every Arabic city, every important Arabic city should have its own cinema festival, theater festivals, all those festivals that create cultural awareness which can in return will show in culture and in people," said Syrian Actor Saloom Haddad who added that there is alot more to be done to raise cultural profile of the region.
On their first night the stars were treated to a viewing of "Secretariat" by director Randall Wallace followed by large buffet and a mixture of Jazz and traditional Arabic dancing and entertainment.
Formerly known as the Middle East International Film Festival and now carrying the UAE's capital name instead, the festival aims to raise profile of Abu Dhabi's efforts to establish itself as a film hub for the region, where Arab and International films compete against in each other in different categories.
172 films from 43 countries including 58 world and international premiers are the highlights of this year's festival. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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