"Precious" Premieres

Director Lee Daniels arrives for the premiere of his movie "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. The dark urban drama, which took top honors at Sundance, opens in U.S. cinemas on Friday.

Sapphire, author of the book on which "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" is based, poses at the movie's debut at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker and his wife arrive at the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. The movie is generating a lot of Oscar buzz this season.

Singer and dancer Paula Abdul arrives at the premiere of the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. The movie follows Clareece "Precious" Jones, an overweight, illiterate and abused Harlem teen who is pregnant with her second child and invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life will head in a new direction.

Singer and actress Mariah Carey, who plays a social worker in "Precious: Based on the Novell 'Push' by Sapphire," poses with her husband, Nick Cannon, at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Mary J. Blige, who co-wrote one of the film's original songs, arrives at the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who plays the title character in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," poses with actor Will Smith at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Actress and comedian Mo'Nique, who plays an abusive mother in the dark drama, arrives with her husband Sidney Hicks for the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Her performance has been called Oscar-worthy.

Paula Patton, a cast member in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," poses at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Actor Sidney Poitier, left, and his daughter Sydney Tamiia Poitier arrive together at the premiere of the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Poitier was the first African-American to win a Best Actor Oscar.

Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey gestures to photographers as she arrives at the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. She is an executive producer of the film.

Actress Olivia Wilde poses at the premiere of the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Gabourey Sidibe, who plays the title character in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," poses at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. This is her first movie.

Singer and actress Mariah Carey, who plays a social worker in "Precious: Based on the Novell 'Push' by Sapphire," poses at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. The film has earned strong critical notices for Carey.

Actor Will Smith waves to fans as he arrives for the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Singer Mary J. Blige gets a kiss from her husband, Kendu Isaacs, at the premiere of the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Oprah Winfrey, left, and Tyler Perry, executive producers of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," pose together at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Paula Patton, right, a cast member in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," and her husband, musician Robin Thicke, react to photographers at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Sherri Shepherd, co-host of "The View," arrives at the premiere of "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Shepherd plays a school secretary in the film.

Mariah Carey, right, a cast member in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," is led into Grauman's Chinese Theatre by husband, Nick Cannon, at the premiere of the film at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.