Hollywood stars Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith and Adrien Brody are among the international celebrities and filmmakers who have confirmed their attendance at the Middle East International Film Festival (Meiff) this year.

The red carpet and opening night ceremony will screen the gala film “The Brothers Bloom” directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Endgame and Summit Entertainment, at the second edition of the fest, to be held from October 10 to 19.

“Despite the fact that we are only two years old, Meiff has managed to establish an excellent reputation among similar events worldwide,” said Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, vice chairman of Meiff and director general of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (Adach).

Emirati Stars who will also grace the Red Carpet include Samira Ahmed, Ahmed Al Jasmi, Bilal Abdallah, Dr Habib Ghuloum and Ashjan. 

Other Arab stars who will attend the fest include Yosra, Elham Shaheen, Hussein Fahmy, Kahled Saleh, Jamal Soliman, Sherif Munir, Hala Sedki, Fathi Abdel Wahab, Latifa, Saloom Haddad, Libliba, Khaled El Nabawy and Safeya Al Emary, Mohamed Heneidi, Solaf Fawakhirji, Haifa Hussain, Saad Al Faraj, Abdul Hussain Abdul Rida, Dawood Hussain, Duraid Lahham, among others.

Last month, director of the Festival, Nashwa Al Ruwaini, announced that Jane Fonda will also be attending, and will be honoured with the `Cinema Verite/Meiff Lifetime Achievement Award.'

Other prominent guests include Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon and Laila Alawi who will join for the Cinema Verite/Meiff 2008 panels to be held on October 14 and 15, concentrating on socially conscious cinema.-TradeArabia News Service