DIFF Kicks Off Eleventh Edition With Stunning Red Carpet Gala

Emily Blunt, Lee Daniels, Virginia Madsen, Asha Bhosle, Nour El-Sherif, Nadine Labaki, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje andOlga Kurylenkoadd glitz and glamour to Opening Night Gala

Dubai, December 11, 2014: The eleventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) got off to a glamorous start last night at the Madinat Jumeirah with ared carpet opening gala screening The Theory of Everythingfrom Academy Award-winning director James Marsh.

The Theory of Everything is a thought-provoking film starring Eddie Redmayne as extraordinary physicist Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as Jane Wilde, his love and fellow student.

The prestigious DIFF Lifetime Achievement Awardwas presented during the opening night to legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle for her decades of dedication to Indian cinema. On receipt of the Award, Asha treated the audience to an impromptu performance of her most memorable renditions.

To rousing applause acclaimed Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif was also presented with the DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award for his work on over 100 films, in a career that's spanned nearly five decades.

The DIFF box office is open online on at www.dubaifilmfest.com. Additional information is also available through the Festival's dedicated customer care number, 363 FILM (3456).