click on image to see the larger version
Hollywood actress Sharon Stone hosted a star-studded Aids benefit at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday.

Liza Minnelli and Rod Stewart were among the guests at the event, which raised a reported $1.8m for the American Foundation for Aids Research.

The benefit is an annual event at the festival, which ends on Sunday.

Friday sees the premiere of The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, a biography of the British comedy actor starring Geoffrey Rush and Charlize Theron.

There had been reports that Sellers' first wife Britt Ekland was unhappy at the casting of Theron to play her.

But Theron said Ekland would be accompanying her to the Cannes premiere.

She's my date," Theron said.

The Aids gala attracted an eclectic mix of celebrities from the world of cinema, music, fashion and sport.

Cannes jury president Quentin Tarantino and Star Wars actress Natalie Portman rubbed shoulders with Bryan Ferry and tennis player Serena Williams at the event, which featured musical entertainment from Sheryl Crow and a charity auction.