(Relaxnews) - The legendary Cannes Film Festival kicks off Wednesday. The mystique surrounding the event in the south of France is as much about the social scene as it is about the film projections. With eleven nights entirely dedicated to partying, celebrities and charity events, everyone wants to know where VIPs like Rihanna, Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes or Hugh Laurie will be partying the night away. A look at some of the major parties.

(Relaxnews) - During the annual film fest (running May 15-26) hotels in Cannes hike up their usual rates by 178 percent on average, according to French tourist site Allovoyages.fr.

(AFP) - Prestigious jeweller Harry Winston, which was acquired earlier this year by Swatch Group, bought a new colourless, flawless 101.73-carat diamond for a record $26.7 million at an auction in Geneva on Wednesday, auction house Christie's said.

(AFP) - Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum is selling a limited number of copies of the Dutch master's sketchbooks for the first time, providing rare insight into his life and the origin of some of his most famous portraits, the museum said on Thursday.