Meryl Streep stars in hard-hitting new drama Doubt

Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams hit the red carpet in Beverly Hills for a special screening of their new film Doubt.

Sharon Stone was also among the guests who turned out to see the movie - which centres on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing a black student.

But speaking on the red carpet at the Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences, director John Patrick Shanley played down any Oscar buzz the film has been generating.

"Our job is to do the very best we can and strive for excellence, to do it because it means something to us and that we think its worthy of communicating to other people.

"Awards are a wonderful thing but I think that's why I do it and that's why they do it," he said.