Your guide to Dubai celeb spotting

Over the next eight days, everywhere you turn, chances are that a famous face could be peeking out at you.

If you are really fortunate, then a Sean Penn or a Colin Ferrell could throw you a wink, but if Lady Luck isn’t shining down on you, then you may just have to make do with a Bollywood director-producer Karan Johar giggling on couch with a cuppa in hand.

Emirates 24|7 has decided to make things a tad easier by guiding you through the maze of movies that is Dubai International Film Festival, which kicks off tonight, by mapping out the top spots in the city where you are almost guaranteed to bump into a celebrity over the course of this cinematic celebration.

Red Carpet Galas

While it plans to be a tough squeeze, fans of Hollywood greats such as Colin Firth (tonight at the Madinat Arena) and Colin Ferrell (Wednesday at Madinat Arena again), can make their way to the red carpet around 6pm to catch their favourite stars.

Firth has already landed in Dubai and will be promoting his film, DIFF’s opening gala, “The King’s Speech” tonight, while Ferrell, along with Jim Sturgess, will be here to promote another gala, “The Way Back”.

Word of advice: get there early to avoid disappointment.

In Conversations

DIFF has pulled off a double whammy for Monday night, possibly to beat the blues for the denizens of Dubai.

Those of you who will miss Firth tonight can head to the First Group Theatre at 4pm to catch him in a freewheeling hour-long chat with Variety magazine. If you are really lucky, not only will you manage to get a seat, but also ask him a question or two when the floor opens up to the audience.

Twiddle your thumbs for another two hours and at the same venue will walk in Academy Award winner Sean Penn, who is in town to receive his DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award.

Known to be a media recluse of sorts, now’s the chance to catch the star of films such as “Mystic River” and “Milk” in action.

Dining with the stars

OK, so there’s no DIFF event that really brings you close enough with any celebrity to break bread and have a fun date. However, some of these stars will certainly let down their hair at some point in their stay and head out for the night on the town, and this is when you need to be ready with your cameras.

Our top choice is Nobu, the mouth-watering Japanese fine dining restaurant on Atlantis The Palm. Chances are, Penn, who is a good friend of Hollywood great Robert DeNiro, could swing by for some sushi to support his mate’s restaurant.

Another Japanese eatery that will get our two thumbs up is Zuma, tucked away in DIFC and most certainly would cater to the Karan Johars and of this world. 

Sneak-a-peek at the souk

A few years ago, Emirates 24|7 snoops curled up with a cuppa at the souk Starbucks and ran into Salma Hayek – surrounded by a posse of bodyguards – along with Ben Affleck struggling to cough up some dirhams until a DIFF volunteer offered to pay for him instead.

Hang around there long enough a few lesser-known famous faces such as Sturgess and Ed Harris are likely to make an appearance.

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