RIYADH: The only thing sparkling brighter than the stars on the red carpet and performers on stage were the dresses on the runway as Lebanese icon Elie Saab put on a spectacle on Wednesday night in Riyadh with Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion and Halle Berry hitting the stage in addition to a runway show of his creations.

In celebration of 45 years of Elie Saab, the show displayed 300 designs under the theme “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab,” an homage to the 1001 nights collection of Middle Eastern folktales.

Former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld styled all the looks for the runway.

Guests were given a surprise when stars Lopez, Camila Cabello, Nancy Ajram, Amr Diab, and the legendary Celine Dion took to the stage in celebration of Elie Saab.

Opening the show was none other than Hollywood actress Berry wearing the same Elie Saab gown she wore when she won her first Oscar in 2002, making her the first Black woman to win the award for Best Actress.

Prior to the show, Berry was seen on the red carpet talking about how this was her first time meeting Saab in person, “That was the highlight of this trip for me to finally meet this man who I have been inextricably connected to for 22 years, and to give him a hug and tell him thank you.”

Celebrity stylist Law Roach, known for styling Hollywood A-listers like Zendaya, Anya Taylor Joy, Bella Hadid, and Celine Dion, talked to Arab News about Elie Saab’s ability to transcend eras.

“Elie Saab is one of the few couturiers whose clothes can be passed down to generations and generations and be reinterpreted.”

“Maybe someone got married in it (a dress), and maybe generations down the granddaughter of someone gets married in the same dress, it has that possibility of just being timeless and forever,” he said.

The spectacle began with a performance by Lopez, a frequent wearer of Saab’s creations. The first designs exhibited an array of black-and-white dresses adorned in classic crystals, a signature touch in most of his designs.

Next up was “an ode to the female figure”, where dresses in different shades of pink and green were lit up on stage with the help of singer-songwriter Camila Cabello. This section of the show featured what looked like a garden theme, detailing the beauty of the natural world as it interconnects with the beauty of women.

The tale continued into a silver and blue chapter, where the audience was given a touch of Arab culture with Lebanese singing icon Nancy Ajram, a nod to Elie Saab’s Lebanese heritage as well, followed by Egyptian star Amr Diab.

“Elie Saab, the name introduces itself. When we say Elie Saab we say elegance… when I wear Elie Saab I look at myself in the mirror more often and find myself more beautiful,” Ajram stated before her performance.

“I am also happy that a Lebanese creative deserves to be honored, is very successful, and we all see ourselves in him.”

The show concluded with a showcase by Dion, who gave an emotional and empowering performance that had the entire audience on their feet.

“Being here (in Riyadh) for the first time is kind of a dream come true,” Dion said.

“His (Elie Saab’s) generosity, his talent, he has been singing with me because I have been wearing his dresses, his talent, for many, many, years.”

Elie Saab Jr., CEO of Elie Saab, said: “We have been thinking a lot about how to create an international event in high fashion in the heart of Riyadh. And I believe it is a one of a kind event, not just for Riyadh, but for the whole world and the whole fashion industry.”

The evening was attended by more than 1,000 guests, including Egyptian actress Youssra; Italian star Monica Bellucci; British models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Poppy Delevingne  and Jourdan Dunn, supermodels Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel and Helena Christensen, and Arab actresses Nadine Njeim, Cyrine Abdel Nour, and Tara Emad.

Mustafa Sammak, COO of Ohana Development, which collaborated with Elie Saab on the Waterfront Tower in Abu Dhabi, told Arab News at the event that the showcase “powerfully reflects Middle Eastern artistry and heritage, drawing global attention to the region’s luxury landscape and creative depth. It reminds us that design — whether in fashion or real estate — has the ability to tell stories and bridge cultures.”

JEDDAH: Academy Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis and Egyptian star Mona Zaki will be honored at this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, set to run from Dec. 5-14 under the theme “The New Home of Film.”

Jeddah's newly inaugurated Culture Square is the main venue for this year’s festivities. RSIFF will showcase a lineup of 120 films from 81 territories and host a program of talks, screenings, and awards honoring luminaries in the film industry.

This year the festival will honor two women in global cinema: Egyptian actress Mona Zaki and Academy Award-winning US actress Viola Davis. 

Davis is a producer and the co-founder of JVL Media, an initiative dedicated to bringing diverse narratives to the screen, will also be recognized. During the festival, JVL Media will take part in RSIFF’s Souk, an industry-focused market dedicated to fostering cross-cultural storytelling and collaboration. The Souk will bring together 75 companies from 18 countries, with JVL Media joining in both the marketplace and the industry talks program, which will delve into storytelling trends and funding opportunities within the region and globally. 

This UNESCO Heritage site, with its coral stone buildings and colorful rawasheen latticework, offers a unique blend of heritage and modernity, creating an immersive cinematic experience. 

Mohammed Asseri, RSIFF Acting CEO, said: “The new venue in Jeddah’s historic district blends modern design with rich history.”

Shivani Pandya Malhotra, managing director of the RSIFF, highlighted the foundation's comprehensive approach to supporting the film ecosystem, saying: "We're not just about the festival — we have a range of initiatives like the Red Sea Souk, which serves as an industry hub for business, connections, and discovering new films. Through Red Sea Labs, we provide vital support to regional filmmakers, offering programs like residency opportunities, feature film development, and collaborations with Film Independent for TV series projects. The Red Sea Fund further empowers filmmakers by offering partial financing for their films and TV series.”

Addressing the challenges regional filmmakers face in breaking into the international scene, Shivani emphasized the importance of telling authentic local stories from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia. 

"We believe in the power of these stories and are committed to giving filmmakers the platform to share them. Through Red Sea Labs and the Souk, we provide structure, pitch opportunities, and connect filmmakers with international buyers, distributors, and sales agents. Our goal is to create an organic space where projects can be discovered and supported,” she said. 

RSIFF 2024 will open with “The Tale of Daye’s Family,” an Egyptian-Saudi co-production directed by Karim Shenawy, telling the inspiring story of Daye, a young Nubian albino boy with a powerful voice who faces adversity while journeying from Aswan to Cairo to audition for “The Voice.” 

Johnny Depp-directed “‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness” will be this year’s Awards Night Gala film while the fourth edition’s closing film will be “Better Man,” directed, co-written, and co-produced by Michael Gracey. The biopic reimagines the journey of British pop icon Robbie Williams—from boy band fame to tabloid scandal and his return to the spotlight.

In addition to these highlights, the festival will present a competitive lineup, including “Maria,” directed by Pablo Larrain and starring Angelina Jolie as opera star Maria Callas, and “We Live In Time,” featuring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Hollywood star Danny DeVito is expected to attend the gala screening of “A Sudden Case of Christmas.” 

Kaleem Aftab, director of international programming at RSIFF, said, “When selecting films for the Red Sea Film Festival, I first look for emotional resonance, if a film connects with me personally, it often connects with audiences in Saudi Arabia. Our theme this year, The New Home of Film, draws inspiration from home, both literally and metaphorically. It's about finding films that embody that feeling of belonging. We also seek films that are culturally relevant, with themes of change and modernity, especially as Saudi Arabia undergoes its own transformation.”