Awesome threesome at MEIFF

Hollywood beauties Hilary Swank, Demi Moore and Freida Pinto put the "three to tango" theory to test on Thursday — the opening night of the Middle East International Film Festival. Gliding down the red carpet in resplendent designer gowns, their appearances boosted the glamour quotient considerably. Unleashing a blitzkrieg of flashlights, Moore — clad in a strapless black gown and a string of black pearls — was in a relaxed mode as she recommended a day at the beach to unwind.

But the actor-turned-producer was all business when asked if she would ever make a movie in the Middle East.

"Most definitely. But to me, the story is the most important. What interests me are strong provocative stories that bring positive, relevant questions. I find that very exciting," said the Indecent Proposal actress before she was shepherded to the gala screening of The Traveler. Her only blip to an otherwise wonderful evening was the absence of Omar Sharif.

Educating

"I wish Omar Sharif was here," was her parting shot. Moore also gushed eloquently about the capital. Excited at the prospect of being in the Middle East, she added that her visit would be about learning more about the oil-rich capital and educating herself.

"It's all so foreign to me. And I think the city is wonderful — it's changing every minute," says Moore. Her appearance was topped up by another rapture-inducing guest. Hollywood's girl-of-the-moment Freida Pinto was all smiles as she posed for the photographers. Clad in a sweeping Marc Jacobs gown with her hair scraped back into a ponytail, the actress of the Oscar-nominated Slumdog Millionaire was gushing about the city's hospitality and warmth.

"I am loving it here. The people are so warm and hospitable. It's just lovely to be here," said Pinto. A favourite of maverick filmmakers like Woody Allen and Julian Schnabel, Pinto was not as keen to talk about her sensational projects.

"Working with Woody Allen is nice," was her succinct response, before adding that she wasn't supposed to talk about her projects just yet. The Danny Boyle discovery will be seen opposite Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins in Allen's next venture.

Better halves

Both Moore and Pinto walked the red-carpet solo. Their better halves —Ashton Kutcher and Dev Patel — were sorely missed. Not surprisingly, "Is he with you?" questions were side-stepped with admirable nonchalance. Saving the best for the last, two-time Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank, in a glittering Elie Saab gown, made her Middle-Eastern debut with grace. Abu Dhabi is just her first stop.

Later this month, her film Amelia — about the legendary aviator Amelia Earhart — will open the inaugural Doha Tribeca Film Festival. Though she did not have films at MEIFF, she was here to present the Black Pearl Life Time Achievement Award to British actress Vanessa Redgrave. Redgrave's husband, Franco Nero, collected the award on his wife's behalf.

America's fashion darling Jason Wu did his bit in adding a splash of colour to the evening. Looking dapper in a Calvin Klien suit, Wu played up to the press galleries in his signature soft style.

Meanwhile, the trio's pout-and-pose appearance was complemented by an array of actors from the Arabic cinema. Lebanese actress Abdel Nour, who made her debut with the festival opener The Traveler, walked in with the director Ahmad Maher.

In the next few days, more than 120 films from across the globe will be featured in the 10-day fest. 

If looks could kill

Demi Moore looked ravishing on the red carpet and was grace personified for most of her two-minute appearance. But her assistants — swirling around her — was at the receiving end of a murderous glance when one of her hapless minions made the mistake of stepping on her gown's train. The red carpet, which was dangerously uneven, did not help. But seconds later Moore was back regaining her compusure, while keeping her guard up."I cannot come any closer," was her response when a broadcast journalist requested her to step closer to the microphone.

Oops! Scarlet goes …

We all know that MEIFF's executive director Peter Scarlet loves good film and is not big on celebrities or fashion. But we hear, it was disarming to watch him introduce Jason Wu as the designer of Hilary Swank's white Elie Saab gown. Obviously, Wu's white gown - which Michelle Obama wore at the US Presidential inaugural ball — has caught the collective imagination of everybody out there.