With the Cannes Film Festival in full force, the glamorous red carpet events and movie premieres are making the headlines in both the cinema and the fashion world. It's natural, after all, to devour the more or less inspired choices made by the stars in what concerns wardrobe, hair and makeup if the stars in question are all-round showbiz icons such as Madonna or Sharon Stone. The two artists put in a joint appearance yesterday in Cannes, where they both attended the premiere of Madonna's Malawi AIDS orphan documentary "I Am Because We Are".

Although Stone already turned 50 earlier this year and Madonna will celebrate her fiftieth birthday come this August, both women looked absolutely stunning in black dresses and low-key jewelry and makeup, standing side by side on the red carpet and showing a united front raising money for the AmFAR Cinema Against AIDS fund raiser, which auctions off items for an AIDS charity. Last year, Sharon Stone, who is currently on the French Riviera to promote her new film "No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos", managed to raise an impressive £3.5million at the annual Cannes AIDS benefit, and is undoubtedly hoping to do just as spectacularly this year.

On the red carpet, Madonna wore a Chanel black and white beaded body-skimming gown with fringed sleeves and trim, while Sharon's dress was more simple and classical-cut, accessorized with a golden belt under her bust line. Both women opted for similar, pink lips and smoky eye makeup, and both sported blond hair and darkened roots, much to the surprise of the onlookers. At the screening Madonna was accompanied by her director husband Guy Ritchie who looked distinctly glum next to his wife's obviously excellent mood.