Forest Whitaker leads stars at Abu Dhabi Film Festival

He was a man in demand on the red carpet and he was a man in demand at the afterparty. We are talking about Hollywood legend Forest Whitaker who stole the spotlight at the opening gala of Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Whitaker, who was honoured with the Black Pearl Career Achievement Award on Thursday night, was in top form as he posed with his fans and Arab stars alike.

The weekend tabloid! spotted him having a good time with Arab stars at the afterparty by luxury watchmaker Jaeger LeCoultre.

“I want be known as the citizen of the world and it’s good to know that my work is appreciated by the rest of the world,” said Whitaker on the red carpet. It was clear that his popularity transcended boundaries of race and religion.

Palestine’s pride Hiam Abbas also knew a thing of working the red carpet. Clad in black Miu Mium gown, the ADFF jury member said she couldn’t wait to find out the reactions from her first comedy in her career. Along with jury duty, she brings her latest project Peace After Marriage.

“I have done so many tragic parts in the past. I find it interesting to discover emotions in a different path,” said Abbas.

“You should come and watch it,” she told reporters. Another charming star was Australia’s Jackie Weaver who serves as this year’s president of the Narrative Competition. Pairing sparkling earrings with a red Tadashi Shoji gown made from lace, Weaver couldn’t hide her enthusiasm at her first Arabian adventure.

“I have been here only for stop-overs. It’s every bit glamorous as I imagined it to be,” said Weaver. She’s in the hunt for stories that would make her laugh and life.

“Isn’t that what life is all about? I like great characters and good stories,” said Weaver. She lets us in on a secret too.

“I knew we were making a beautiful film. But some films just don’t get picked up,” said Weaver when asked if she expected 2012 rom-com drama Silver Linings Playbook, which got eight Oscar nods, to win in any of the categories.

The night also belonged to an array of Arab stars who put their best foot forward on the red carpet. As Egypt’s Mervat Amin puts it: “I am scared of flying so it has to be a good reason for me to be on an aircraft. What this country has done for Egypt, I would never miss such a festival.”