Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid's film "As I Open My Eyes" won the top award for fiction feature Wednesday at the Dubai International Film Festival.

Set in Tunisia months before the 2011 uprising, the film narrates the story 18-year-old Farah, who defies taboos, joining a political rock band, far from her parents' wish to see her become a doctor.

The French-Tunisian-Belgian co-production had featured in previous film festivals, including Toronto and Venice.

"I did not this prize at tall... I am very happy and proud," Bouzid told AFP after winning the Best Muhr Fiction Feature prize.

In total, 130 film from 60 countries, including long features, short films and documentaries, have been screened during the annual festival organised by the Gulf emirate.

French actress Catherine Deneuve was honoured at the opening of the festival last week with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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