Vanessa McMahon

Claudio Masenza and Kim Cattrall

Welcome to Aruba where film fantasy and paradise meet- an Edenic tropical island, rich Aruban culture, crystal blue Caribbean water, stimulating humidity, sizzling sun and a celebration of international art-house cinema... This year’s Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF) began with a sensual flare welcoming beloved actress, Sex In The City star Kim Cattrall to open with her latest film, MEET MONICA VELOUR (2010).

Last night at the 2nd annual Aruba International Film Festival, Kim Cattrall attended the World Premier of her film MEET MONICA VELOUR, an independent film by director Keith Bearden where, Kim says, she plays the most challenging role of her career; ‘In opposition to my character Samantha in Sex in the City, Sam could never go to a dark emotional place for long because SITC was a happy TV series but Monica's character was a hard feat because she is a dark lost person’. Kim found this a very challenging role but something she was determined to do in order to show another side of herself and a more real character than she has played before.

While the film opened a year ago nationwide in the US, Aruba hosted it's first international premier.

AIFF’s Minister of Tourism Otmar Oduber, Minister of Economic Affairs Michelle Winklaar, festival producers Giuseppe Cioccarelli and Jonathan Viera, Artistic Director Claudio Masenza and Festival Programmer Margherita De Paola were some of the festival organizers to grace the red carpet before the appearance of Kim Cattrall along with the director of MEET MONICA VELOUR Keith Bearden. Award winning costume designer Michael Kaplan also walked the red carpet. Kaplan has been working in Hollywood since 1981 and has worked on films like BLADE RUNNER (1982), FIGHT CLUB (1999) and MR. AND MRS. SMITH (2007).

When Kim was asked how she felt to be in Aruba she said she had felt great as it was her first time and greeted fans saying the local Papiamento ‘hello’ which is: ‘Bon Bini’. Kim stated that she hopes to relax in this paradise island while also promoting her film. What she really hopes people take from the film and her role in it is that in what is still very much a man’s world women really need to come more together more than ever.

Kim went on to answer questions about the film on the red carpet and then the crowds filed into the theater for the premier. Artistic Director Claudio Masenza greeted the audience and welcomed everyone to the kick off film to Aruba sequel. Claudio was so happy to be here and thanked the audience and talent and supporters for making the festival possible. Then Kim came to the stage and voiced how happy she was to be here in Aruba, her first time, for the film's international premier and that they will go to Edinburgh for the EIFF next week. She is the most proud of this film out of all her work because it was her greatest challenge yet and she hopes international audiences will enjoy the film...

Thus begins the first night of the 2nd annual Aruba Film Festival.

Written by Vanessa McMahon

(below) Jonathan Viera, Kim Cattrall, Giuseppe Cioccarelli

(above) Claudio Masenza, Kim Cattrall and Giuseppe Cioccarelli