Dubai International Film Festival kicks off

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) opens amidst one of the worst financial crises ever to face Dubai. Dozens of celebrities attended the opening, including Hollywood stars Gerald Butler, Matt Dillon, Christina Ricci, Mandy Moore, Omar Sharif and Christopher Lambert, as well as Indian legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and his actor-son Abhishek. Queen Noor of Jordan also attended the ceremony. The sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival opened with the screening of the US movie Gala of Nine, directed by Rob Marshall. It was screened hours before it was also shown on screens in Los Angeles to select audiences. The film starring Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson and Sophia Loren will open for the first time to the general public in Dubai. The selection of 168 films from 55 countries to be screened over the next eight days confirms the festival's emergence as the leading festival of the region. Indian movie legend Amitabh Bachchan received the DIFF 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.