A host of international celebrities and dignitaries will descend on the National Stadium in Singapore in October for a global fund-raising event that will be beamed live to more than 500 million people in 80 countries.

The six-hour Listen Live concert on Oct 1, which marks the end of the global Listen Campaign to raise awareness for the world's disadvantaged children, will be the biggest event ever held in the Southeast Asian island republic. According to the event organiser Tribute, the Listen Campaign is also the world's largest ever charitable entertainment project.

Jessica Lange

Backed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Airlines, the fundraiser will feature 20 film stars, 20 music celebrities, 20 dignitaries and 20 short films on disadvantaged children.

Coming three months after July's International Olympic Committee meeting in Singapore to announce the winner of the 2012 Olympic bid, Listen Live will once again put Singapore in the global spotlight.

So far, seven celebrities have confirmed they are taking part in the campaign, which starts this month and runs for 120 days. They are film stars Susan Sarandon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kurt Russell, Brooke Shields, Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange and Goldie Hawn.

Goldie Hawn

Several film directors will make short dramas, each one about a child trapped in either war, disease, exploitation, poverty or AIDS, while musicians will record a special Listen CD. There will also be a selection of short stories about disadvantaged children around the world written by well-known novelists, and several renowned artists will create original works on the same theme.

The money raised will be used to fund 200 children's charity projects worldwide.