Why Kristen Stewart's premiere rocked

CANNES, France — They saved the best for last on the Cannes red carpet. Clouds of Sils Maria had everything you could dream about for a Cannes Film Festival world premiere. (And it was followed by a celebration for the 20th anniversary of Pulp Fiction, which made for more fun.)

Here's why Sils Maria allowed the festival to make a grand exit on the last night of film competition.

Kristen Stewart

The star was late to Cannes, jetting in after the cast and director Olivier Assayas had already done their initial photocall and press conference.

But what an entrance for Stewart with shocking red hair matching the grand carpet and an audacious pant suit amid a sea of flowing gowns. Stewart, who plays a headstrong assistant to a major movie star in the film, then kicked off her heels and walked into the Palais des Festivals in her bare feet. Heaven.

She was supported by American co-star Chloe Grace Moretz, who wore a playful feathered creation to the premiere.

Spring Break at Cannes

CANNES, FRANCE — Dollars. Euros. Dollars. Euros. By 11 p.m., the bids were coming in so fast that Sharon Stone, who was handling part of the auction, couldn’t even keep the currencies straight.

It was Thursday night, and the Cannes Film Festival was nearing its close with the gala to cap a week of glittery galas: amfAR’s annual Cinema Against AIDS dinner, where movie stars and supermodels show up en masse in bedazzled designer gowns, and the seriously rich come to bask in their reflective glow and part ways with their money for a good cause.

One minute, a person near the tented stage at the legendary Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc was offering 100,000 euros for 42 red designer dresses that had just appeared in a runway show organized by the magazine editor Carine Roitfeld.