Hiam Abbass
Aside from the films, a red carpet is about fashion. At the opening of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival on Thursday night the Palestinian actress and producer Hiam Abbass showed off her natural elegance in a plain black shift by Miu Miu. The star of the hit film Silver Linings Playbook and the head of the narrative jury, Jacki (pictured below Weaver, wore a flattering red gown by the Japanese designer Tadashi Shoji. Onlookers were transfixed by the Emirati actress Huda Al Khatib’s sparkling emerald dress, by Huda Style. “I was the first one wearing that designer, and now she’s famous. Lots of people at the film festival this year are wearing that designer,” she gushed.
Celebrity tourism
The Life of Crime director Daniel Schechter and its star Mark Boone Junior were determined to make the most of their time in Abu Dhabi, with a planned visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque before departing on Saturday. “It’s my first time in Abu Dhabi and it’s a crazy treat for me, staying in this beautiful palace,” said Schechter. “I’m hoping we’ll get to do a dune buggy desert adventure tomorrow.”
Al Jabri backs Philomena
The festival director Ali Al Jabri has literally seen everything, having watched each of the more than 100 films screening at the festival. “We start at the very beginning of the year and we try to bring in the best films in the world,” he said on Thursday night’s red carpet. Though Al Jabri recommends all the films, he was partial to Philomena, which stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan and screened on Saturday night .
