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Hollywood icon, social activist and philanthropist Richard Gere had the audience mesmerised at a 90-minute panel discussion called Operation Cultural Bridge — A World of Discovery at the Madinat Theatre on Friday night.
Dubai International Film Festival director Neil Stephenson opened the event by announcing that the team had been asked to add some substance to the festival slogan — Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds — and that this event would do just that.
"With such a distinguished panel of guests from around the world, we will discuss the sensitive side of cinema and will not leave a stone unturned," he said.
The panel, which also included director Oliver Stone, filmmaker Julia Bacha, Egyptian cinema's Mohammed Khan, African producer Maji-da Abdi and Ronnie Screwvala, the CEO of India's United Television, mainly discussed the power of cinema throughout the world. Specifically, it looked at the differences between the industry in the Arab world vis-à-vis India, Europe and America, covering issues like distribution, censorship and content.
The diversity of the audience made for an interesting evening. Gere and the rest of the panel were kept on their toes with questions with themes ranging from Arab women working in Hollywood to the distribution of Arab films across the world to the role of the media in the industry. Celebrated journalist Riz Khan moderated the session, keeping the discussion going with ease.
Gere also spoke of his work with HIV sufferers in India. "I have been fighting the battle against HIV for more than eight years. It's something I felt strongly about and wanted to make a difference.
"Of course, I use my status as a famous actor to my advantage but it only works if all the right people work with me.
"I try to create a matrix of energy between myself, the media, influential businessmen as well as non-governmental organisations and the government.
Working for a cause like this is mainly about the passion in your heart to help people. That is the main thing which will inspire and drive you — not fame and stardom."
Having said that, Gere ended the discussion, putting his profession in the right perspective. "Men," he said, "were created to tell stories. Life is a series of story-telling which intertwines over the years and decades. My job as an actor is to tell a story — it's not my opinion or view but just a story written for me and other players."
Director Oliver Stone was also asked some pressing questions about filmmaking post-9/11 and Arab women making it in Hollywood.
He said: "One of the most influential producers at Paramount is sitting among the audience here today. She is an Arab. That answers the question as to whether or not it's possible for an Arab female to break into Hollywood. Anyone can do anything if they want it badly enough. The film industry in Hollywood is immensely diverse and I've worked with people from all walks of life. It's about passion and good luck to all the people who plan to break it."
As for 9/11, there will always be a villain dependent on the story and the season of time, he added.
Building bridges
Iconic actor and activist Richard Gere and acclaimed Hollywood director Oliver Stone furthered the Dubai International Film Festival's (DIFF) message of bridging cultures and meeting minds on Friday evening, participating in DIFF's new Operation Cultural Bridge Panel.
The wide-ranging global issues discussed included media violence, the responsibility of the artist in the world and how film can be used for the promotion of peace around the world.
The benchmark of this year's festival, the event gave DIFF guests a rare opportunity to hear some of the fundamental concerns facing the international community debated by artists and key global media figures whose careers have been defined by such universal themes and issues.
Gere and Stone were joined on the panel by director Julia Bacha; Maji-da Abdi, a consultant of the African Union on African Cinema; Mohammed Khan, legend of Egyptian cinema; and Ronnie Screwvala, founder and CEO of UTV.
Moderated by Riz Khan of Al Jazeera International, the pioneering journalist who was the first to broadcast from the annual Haj in Makkah for CNN in 1998.
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