ABU DHABI // Jane Fonda was awarded the Black Pearl Award for lifetime achievement last night at the Middle East International Film Festival. Fonda, who is taking part in the Cinema Vérité's Spotlight programme of debates with fellow actresses Susan Sarandon and Catherine Deneuve, received a standing ovation from the audience in the auditorium of the Emirates Palace hotel. The campaigner and political activist this week praised the UAE for its "progressive" attitude towards women and its forward-thinking programmes to encourage them into leadership positions.
At the ceremony last night she said: "This is a wonderful honour. I have to acknowledge and honour Abu Dhabi for choosing to use your money and your power in support of education, culture and protection of the environment. And you've started a university for women. "We have a saying in America: 'Put your money where your mouth is'." It is her second visit to the Emirates but the first time she has been in the capital. She spoke earlier this year in Dubai at the Women As Global Leaders conference.
mswan@thenational.ae
