Starry-EyEd at doha tribEca Film FEStival

by ORNA BALLOUT

lEona lEwiS, FrEida Pinto, antonio bandEraS, yoSra and nadinE labaki arE among SomE oF thE cElEbS who hElPEd booSt thE Star crEdEntialS at thE country'S glitziESt aFFair dtFF. glam waS oF courSE thErE to caPturE all thE action, in ordEr to bring you FrESh juicE oF FaShion and Film...

GLAM

GLitz & GLAMour

he style was ranked up full notch as film and fashion folk descended on Katara Cultural Village for the glitzy Doha Tribeca Film Festival. A star-studded opening ceremony encouraged thousands of attendees to pack in to the spectacular Katara Open Air Theatre for the world premiere of Arabian epic Black gold. The film's stars Antonio Banderas, Frieda Pinto, Tahar Rahim, Riz Ahmed, Mark Strong, Jan Uddin, Akin Gazi, managed to cause a stir on the red carpet throughout the festival. As did a host of other celebrities in the form of Yosra, Nadine Labaki, and Doha Film Institute Executive Director Amanda Palmer who all got the opportunity to showcase their stunning style files with help from two of the world's most prominent fashion designers Stephane Rolland and Manish Malhotra both in attendance. And let's not forget Robert De Niro, Michelle Yeoh, Omar Sharif and a whole bunch of other A-listers who helped boost star credentials. With a myriad of movies to choose from and a

range of other activities such as workshops and interactive sessions the crowd certainly wasn't let down. 'Doha Talks' proved popular, especially 'She is Film' which four female filmmakers Nadine Labaki, Yasemin Samdereli, Jasmila Zbanic and Nansun Phi take centre stage to discuss subjects such as politics, religion and women working in the industry; While an 'In Conversation' session with sexy Spanish star Antonio Banderas set hearts a flutter when he shared details of his life and prolific film career to a packed out audience. A perfect finale to the festival came with a show from singing sensation, Leona Lewis. The beautiful British chart topper belted out a powerful performance of her hit songs such as Bleeding Love and Collide, as well as some renditions of popular hits consisting Snow Patrol's tear-jerker Run, Grenade by Bruno Mars and Seal's Kiss From A Rose.

Egyptian film actrEss yosra posEs in hEr stEphanE rolland crEation with thE man himsElf

lEbanEsE film dirEctor nadinE labaki in a stunning stEphanE rolland gown with hEr husband khalEd mouzannar

32 / NOVEMBER 2011

GLAM

GLitz & GLAMour

frEida pinto and dEv patEl dazzlE thE crowd in thEir stylE savvy salvatorE fErragamo outfits

ExEcutivE dirEctor of dfi amanda palmEr with moroccan actrEss maysa maghribi

lEgEndary actor robErt dE niro makEs his EntrancE on thE rEd carpEt

sExy spanish star antonio bandEras sEts hEarts racing at thE fEstival

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black gold stars (lEft to right) tahar rahim, mark strong, akin gazi, friEda pinto and Jan uddin.

'shE is film' panEl (lEft to right) nEshan dEr haroutiounian, Jasmila banic, yasEmin samdErEli, nansun shi, and nadinE labaki
34 / NOVEMBER 2011

GLAM

GLitz & GLAMour

british singing sEnsation lEona lEwis bEltEd out a powErful pErformancE of hit songs at thE closing cErEmony antonio bandEras and omar sharif award at thE dtff arab film compEtition awards cErEmony

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maniSh malhotra

bollywood on thE ramP

glam'S orna ballout chatS with india'S lEading FaShion dESignEr at thE FEStival
espite numerous interviews and photo calls at the bustling Doha Tribeca Film Festival, India's top fashion designer Manish Malhotra is calm and polite when GLAM meets him. Dressed smartly in a blue (his fave colour) shirt, pin striped waistcoat and fitted pants he's the epitome of cool, exuding an inviting aura boosted by his gentle voice and handsome looks. He is actually pretty humble considering the fact he's the man behind the style of Bollywood's biggest stars such as Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor to name a few in other words the movers and shakers of fashion in film, whose association has ultimately caused him to become quite the celebrity himself. It's Malhotra's first time in Doha, and he's been given the mammoth task of creating bespoke designs for the festival's stars including Doha Film Institute Executive Director Amanda Palmer, Yosra, Dalia El Bahairy and Dorra Zarrouk, for the MENA premiere of Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told. "I'm very excited to be here especially during this special time of Diwali," the designing extravaganza enthralled. Malhotra is characterised by his fabulous fashion creations that grace the figures of Bollywood's screen sirens, and it is thanks to the opulent colourful combinations made up of luxurious materials, intricate embroidery, embellishments, and an India meets West theme that has caused the fashion world to fall at his feet. He proves to be hit among Arab clientele, especially in Dubai where he has a store. "I think it is the opulence of the designs that appeals to women. I haven't got any clients in Doha but hope that people will appreciate my work, and would of course love to open a store here in the future." Malhotra started his career as a costume designer for film, and this set the foundations for him to carve out a career as India's most successful fashion designer. So it is unsurprising that, aside from fashion, what really makes him tick, is film. "I really love watching movies, any spare time or opportunity I get, I watch them. I've grown up watching films and they've been a huge influence on my fashion career." However, despite his movie affection, he can't quite nail his most memorable fashion moment in film, as, "there have been so many of them." Reflecting his humble persona, when GLAM quizzed him as to who has been his biggest support and inspiration, he shared: "It has to be my mother because we are actually very similar." Cute! For more info visit manishmalhotra.in

dfi ExEcutivE dirEctor amanda palmEr, daila El bahairy, manish malhotra, dorra zarrouk and yosra drEssEd in malhotra's bEspokE dEsigns

36 / NOVEMBER 2011