Stars Flock to amfAR Cannes Gala, Raking in Millions for AIDS Research
The annual amfAR Cannes Gala took place on Thursday night at the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, drawing in a star-studded crowd of Hollywood’s elite and business magnates. The event, which is held during the Cannes Film Festival, raised millions of dollars for AIDS research and featured a range of high-profile auctions and performances.
According to Variety, Adrien Brody, fresh from winning his second best actor Oscar, took to the stage to present a mixed media piece he had created of Marilyn Monroe. The actor, who has previously cited painting as his "first love," demanded the attention of the chatty crowd, shushing them as he began to speak. As reported by Variety, Brody explained that his piece represented "what Marilyn’s life did not afford her": "To live a life fully and to cherish all the moments and the imperfections in life." He continued, "Women are so often objectified in the media and on social media. They have to look beautiful and they are beautiful, but what is within them is what’s most important in this world. And I want to honor that."
The piece ultimately sold for a staggering $425,000, with Brody seen embracing Leonardo DiCaprio at his table afterwards. As Variety notes, DiCaprio was in attendance with his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti, and was one of many A-listers to attend the gala. Other guests included Jeff Bezos and his soon-to-be-wife Lauren Sánchez, Mariska Hargitay and her husband Peter Hermann, Heidi Klum, Colman Domingo, Michelle Rodriguez, and Kevin Spacey.
As reported by Variety, Spacey, who has been attempting a comeback at Cannes, was seated towards the back of the room, away from the main crowd. Despite this, he was still greeted by Adam Lambert, who later performed a medley of Queen songs. James Franco was also in attendance, having donated a painting to the auction that he had worked on across several decades. The painting sold for $368,000, with Franco welcomed on stage by auctioneer Simon du Pury as an "outstanding human being".
The gala’s host, Taraji P. Henson, took a serious tone when discussing the event’s mission: finding a cure for AIDS. As quoted in Variety, she said, "We all have a part to play in bringing this global epidemic to an end. Together, tonight, let’s help amfAR find a cure for AIDS and get the job done." She added, "We’re here to support research that will save lives for generations to come."
The event featured a range of high-profile auctions, including a stay for 16 people at the mega mansion featured in the "Knives Out" film "Glass Onion", which was presented by Robin Thicke. The singer joked that the house had 11 pools, trying to drive the price up. As reported by Variety, the item ultimately sold for $368,000. A James Bond-inspired fashion show, opened by Cara Delevingne, delighted the audience with outfits from every era of the franchise. The collection was later revealed to be part of the auction, and was snatched up by Bezos and Sánchez for $510,000.
The night concluded with a performance from Duran Duran, who played a range of their biggest hits, including "Notorious" and "Girls on Film". The crowd, including Spacey, were seen getting up and dancing before heading to the afterparty. As Variety reports, one of the final lots up for grabs was a walk-on role in Spike Lee’s next film, which Henson joked she would also be starring in. The item sold for $454,000.
The amfAR Cannes Gala is an annual event that takes place during the Cannes Film Festival, with the aim of raising funds for AIDS research. This year’s event was a resounding success, with millions of dollars raised and a star-studded crowd in attendance. As reported by Variety, the event continues to be a highlight of the festival, bringing together Hollywood’s elite and business leaders to support a worthy cause.
