Dubai International Film Festival kicks off with a Hollywood legend in tow

Samuel L Jackson graces the red carpet in a year when 13 Emirati films will be part of the programme.

Tony award-winning actress LaTanya Richardson and actor Samuel L Jackson attend the opening night gala of the 13th annual Dubai International Film Festival at the Madinat Arena . Gareth Cattermole / GShow more

DUBAI // Dubai International Film Festival opened its 13th edition with a star-studded red carpet gala screening of John Madden's Miss Sloane on Wednesday night at the Madinat Arena.

Madden was in attendance for the show, alongside a host of regional and international celebrities.

UAE film-making talents, including directors Abdullah Al Kaabi and Ali F Mostafa, who both have films screening at this year’s event, were joined on the red carpet by the Dubai Ruler’s son, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, who added a royal presence to proceedings.

Talent from the wider region included the popular Egyptian satirist Bassam Youssef, making a return visit to the festival, and Golden Globe-winning Palestinian actor Ali Suliman, who is a judge for this year’s IWC award.

Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor made the trip across the Indian Ocean ahead of tonight's world premiere of their latest movie, Befkire.

From Hollywood, regular visitor and Fast and the Furious star Tyrese Gibson was back in town, while Bond girl Olga Kurylenko was another surprise visitor.

The biggest cheer of the evening, however, was reserved for Hollywood legend Samuel L Jackson, who was set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award later in the evening.

Samuel L Jackson receives his Lifetime Achievement Award from Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed.

Despite Jackson’s reputation for having little time for the media, the star spent about 30 minutes on the carpet chatting to press and fans, and revealed we may be seeing more of him in the UAE soon.

“Would I film here? Sure, I’d love to,” Jackson said. “We were talking about that today actually - I was asking ‘do I have to learn Arabic , or can I just come here?’ Maybe next year one of my movies will screen here.”

Opening this year’s festival, DIFF chairman Abdul Hamid Juma said: “This is the 13th festival and we’re all brimming with optimism. We certainly don’t think number 13 will prove unlucky, and what a wonderful coincidence that this year we have 13 Emirati films in the programme too.”

DIFF runs until December 14.