The fourth Abu Dhabi Film Festival opened with the screening of the new Walt Disney feature film, Secretariat, local media said on Friday.
The film, which tells the true story of a woman who is willing to bet her farm on a race horse she believes in, stars Diane Lane and John Malkovich, DPA reported.
Movie stars from around world attended the opening ceremony on Thursday evening in the Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi. Oscar-winner Adrian Brody and British actor Clive Owen were warmly applauded as they walked up the red carpet, joined by many Bollywood and Arab stars, as well.
"The festival has grown and that's very positive. I think they are helping filmmakers get a voice," Brody told reporters as he joked with fans and signed autographs before the opening ceremony.
The ten-day festival, which ends October 23, features 172 movies from 43 countries. The selection features 26 international premieres.
The Black Pearl Awards will be presented in the closing ceremony, worth around one million dollars in total.
This year a new competition was added to allow 17 young filmmakers to showcase their documentaries for the first time.