Cast members Maggie Q (L), Joe Odagiri (R) and director Tian Zhuangzhuang (C) arrive for the screening of the film "The Warrior And The Wolf" directed by Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang during the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oct. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/An Jiang)

    ABU DHABI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Tian Zhuangzhuang, a renowned Chinese moviemaker, attended the premiere of his new movie in the 2009 Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) Friday in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Maggie Q, a Hawaiian-born actress and former fashion model, and Japanese actor Joe Odagiri also appeared in the premiere of the movie, the Warrior and the Wolf, in the Emirates Palace Hotel.

    "I played a village woman in the film with Joe, who is on the red carpet now," said Maggie Q, who was born to an American father and a Vietnamese mother in 1979.

    "It's really an emotional story," she added.

    Tian, one of the key figures of the so-called "Fifth Generation" moviemakers in China, said that in spite of the MEIFF's short history, the annual event was of great significance for the development of the region's movie industry.

    "I think if it (the film festival) can really help the Middle East's movie industry develop well, it will be a very significant and valuable event, as the Middle East's movie production is comparatively small and has little influence on the world as a whole," he told Xinhua.

    The director also said he hoped that more Chinese movies would be brought to the region so that local people could get a deeper understanding of China.

    "In fact, movies are a kind of cultural exchange. I hope more people in the region will give attention to Chinese movies," he said.

    Movie critics have said the Worrier and the Wolf, Tian's latest work, is a significant departure from the meditative movies he is best known for, such as the Horse Thief and the Springtime in a Small Town. The movie is a magic tale about a brave soldier and a mysterious widow, who has the power to take his mind to a place of legends in ancient China.

    A total of 129 movies from 49 countries or regions were screened during the 10-day festival, an annual event established in 2007. 

Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang arrives for the screening of his film "The Warrior And The Wolf" during the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oct. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/An Jiang)

Cast member Maggie Q arrives for the screening of the film "The Warrior And The Wolf" directed by Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang during the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oct. 16, 2009.(Xinhua/An Jiang)

Cast member Joe Odagiri arrives for the screening of the film "The Warrior And The Wolf" directed by Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang during the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF) in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oct. 16, 2009. (Xinhua/An Jiang)