Dubai rolls out red carpet for "Bobby" at festival

DUBAI, Dec 11 (Reuters) Hollywood, Bollywood and Arab stars descended on Dubai for the start of a film festival that sees itself as a cultural bridge between the West and the Arab world.

Gracing the red carpet for Dubai's third international festival yesterday were the stars of opening film ''Bobby'', about the 1968 assassination of US presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy.

Matrix star Laurence Fishburne showed for the second year. Also at the gala was ''Bobby'' co-star Joshua Jackson, rapper Mos Def, and a host of Arab stars topped by Egyptian actress Yusra.

Some critics questioned the choice of ''Bobby'' to open a festival that has set its sights on building East-West ties through cinema, particularly after last year's topical opener ''Paradise Now'', about why Palestinians become suicide bombers.

But some cast members saw in the film about Kennedy's murder at the time of the Vietnam War a reflection of today's political splits in the United States over the mounting violence in Iraq.

''People like Robert Kennedy ... represent the best of what's in our character as human beings,'' Fishburne told reporters.

''Part of our intention in making this film is to remind people of that part of ourselves.'' While it is opening with a US film, the week-long festival will only be giving prizes for Arab cinema in a new contest to encourage film in a region often derided as a cultural desert.

The festival will award 325,000 dollar in prizes for feature films, documentaries and short films made by Arabs about Arabs.

There is also a contest for films from the United Arab Emirates.

In a testament to Dubai's effort to position itself as a cosmopolitan venue for film-makers to show uncut movies, many of the 115 films also hail from South Asia, Europe and Africa.

The festival has attracted attention since 2004 for showing controversial films that would otherwise have trouble getting screened in the region, but tough security took the shine off a star-studded night for would-be guests who got stranded outside.

A strict black tie policy saw some guests turned away for their colourful ties despite brandishing their invitations. Others left before the film complaining of poor organisation.

''I am dressed smartly. To turn people away for the colour of their tie is disgraceful,'' said Khosro, a middle-aged man who stood outside with his wife, herself in evening dress.

A Californian lady who left early said: ''It's so disorganised inside. People have to take numbered tickets and hold them up to see who will get a seat so we left.'' Despite the frustrations, crowds will probably return later in the week to see Richard Gere and director Oliver Stone, who will promote his new film ''World Trade Center'', about the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in US cities carried out by 19 Arabs.

REUTERS PDS PM0428