Girl power on the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival red carpet

It was girl-power at its best on the fourth day of the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival as The Moth Diaries' terrific-trio Lily Cole, Sarah Bolger and Mary Harron charmed the press on the red-carpet.

"In our film, we have three female protagonists and a female director on top of it. It's all about women empowerment here," said Bolger as she posed and pouted for the cameras.

While The Tudors star was clad in a glittering cream Louise Kennedy gown, Cole's choice of gown - a striped pink and red Jonathan Saunders creation -, black Louis Vuitton heels and dark purple lip-stick mirrored her brooding, gothic character in the psychological thriller.

But the mood on the red-carpet was anything but grim as the rising stars expressed their excitement about receiving the inaugural Black Pearl Rising Star Award, instituted for the first time this year.

Read the special coverage of this year's ADFF

"I never expected it since I have not done more than five films. But it feels good to know that my obscure character in The Moth Diaries has been appreciated," said Cole who has acted in films including The Imagniarium of Doctor Paranassus. The Irish actress Bolger, who became a household name with the TV series The Tudors, said the award cemented their faith in the psychological thriller.

"All of us have worked very hard for this film. So it's wonderful to be here in Abu Dhabi and receive this honour. I hope you guys love this film as much as we have enjoyed making it," said Bolger to the female-dominated crowd who had turned up to see the vampire-meets-psycho drama. Cole stepped in with:

"I hope you guys approve of the choice by the end of the film."

The red-carpet also saw the likes of Egyptian actor Khaled Abol Naga, who presented the Black Pearl Award, docu-makers of Girl Model David Redmon and Ashley Sabin.