Dubai: Some of Hollywood’s hottest young actors rubbed shoulders with film legends as the action rolled on the first night of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) at Madinat Arena on Wednesday night.
Stars from the Middle East, Hollywood and Bollywood mingled on the red carpet with possibly the youngest Diff attendee yet: Canadian actor Jacob Tremblay, 9, who is drawing awards buzz for Room, which screened after the opening ceremony at Madinat Arena, and one of the most feted young actors of the hour: Michael B. Jordan, whose boxing blockbuster Creed is currently running in the UAE cinemas.
It isn’t Jordan’s first time at Diff: In 2013, he attended the premiere of his critically acclaimed drama Fruitvale Station and has come a long way since. In Creed, a Rocky spin-off, Jordan packs a punch in his role as a determined boxer coached by the original Rocky — Sylvester Stallone.
“I gave up everything good for a year for Creed,” said Jordan, 28. “I love watching international films and meeting different people,” he added.
Room is a suspenseful yet heartwarming tale about a mother and son trapped in a garden shed for years.
“I was a bit shy when I first met [co-star Brie Larson]. But then we got to know each other and now we’re best friends” said a tuxedo-clad Tremblay.
Follow us on #Snapchat for all the Red Carpet action at #DIFF2015 pic.twitter.com/tOhu2jnqrQ— Visit Dubai (@visitdubai) December 9, 2015
One of the most touching moments on the red carpet saw Tremblay meeting British actor Dev Patel, 25, who was at Diff for the second time, showcasing his biopic The Man Who Knew Infinity, about Indian mathematical prodigy Srinvasa Ramanujam.
Patel’s breakthrough film, Slumdog Millionaire, premiered at Diff in 2008.
Emirati director @afmfilms dapper as always. #DIFF15 pic.twitter.com/ijz3wv0l5j — tabloid! (@GulfNewsTabloid) December 9, 2015
“I want to breathe life into characters that look like me,” said Patel, sporting a new beard.
“There’s not enough diversity on the screen right now. I think that the people out here will really relate to this man, because he faced prejudice and overcame it beautifully.”
@SyrianLoveStory on the red carpet #DIFF2015 #efa pic.twitter.com/Iz7o4SG2Xx— S64 (@seandear) December 9, 2015
The two young actors can right now only dream of the kind of careers that were celebrated on opening night with the distribution of four lifetime achievement awards — although the recipients mostly preferred to look forward, rather than back.
Honouree
Bringing decades of cinematic stardom was honouree Catherine Deneuve, 72.
“Lifetime achievement awards are dangerous and pleasant at the same time,” the French actress told Gulf News. “I don’t look back much,” she said with a laugh. “I’m busy working.”
Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, Egyptian actor Ezzat Al Alayli and French-Tunisian actor Sami Bouajila (who was not present) were also feted.
Michael B Jordan is here! The #Creed star is having a banner year. #DIFF15 #DIFF2015 @michaelb4jordan pic.twitter.com/vocNzS3A74 — Dubai Film Festival (@dubaifilm) December 9, 2015
“I think there’s another 20 years to go,” said Shah, 66 of his career. His film Waiting is showing at the festival. “It is one of the best films I have done in the recent past, and one that I hope will compensate for the bad films I’ve done this year,” he said with a laugh. “One of those was shot here [Welcome Back].”
Al Alayli was more reflective. “The thing that has stuck with me over the years of being an actor is my responsibility as an artist to society. Art is politics.”
Politics did indeed make their way onto the red carpet, with actor Richard Dreyfuss, in Dubai to celebrate the 40th year anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, sharing his views on Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump. “I think Donald Trump is a complete and utter [expletive], so anything he says is pretty much along those lines.”
134 films from 60 countries
In the next eight days, 134 films from 60 countries will be screened at Diff — with 11 of the features having been made in the UAE.
“The real stars are the films,” said festival director Abdulhamid Juma on the red carpet. “We’re only in the beginning but we hope we’re on the right path of building a Gulf cinema industry. The line-up depends on the production each year. We try to get what’s best out there.”
Oscar-nominated Toronto-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, who is the head of the Muhr Feature Competition jury, said her criteria for good cinema is “what touches me on an emotional level”.
“I want to see lots of films about women. Films with women behind and in front of the camera.”
