A galaxy of stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman and Will Smith turned out for an AIDS benefit that is the social highlight of the Cannes film festival.
The annual amfAR Foundation for AIDS Research gala dinner at the luxury Eden Roc hotel just along the French Riviera at Cap d’Antibes saw celebrities and benefactors paying up to $0.5 million for a table.
Actresses Jessica Chastain, Milla Jovovich and Eva Longoria, former footballer David Beckham, Director David Lynch and Director and jury President Pedro Almodovar were also among A-listers present for the auction to help the charity founded by the late Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor.
They were aiming to beat the €22 million ($24.6 million) raised at last year’s dinner when DiCaprio — who acted as auctioneer — sold a sculpture by British artist Damien Hirst for €3.1 million and a day with Hollywood star Kevin Spacey for $0.5 million.
“Ending AIDS is not a fantasy. Its a goal within our reach and one amfAR was among the first to recognize as attainable,” said the foundation’s President Kenneth Cole.
“Our goal is a cure for 2020. You have the power to stop this pandemic that has killed 35 million people,” he told the gala’s guests.
This year’s lots included a week in an exclusive resort in the Maldives for 60 people, a fully restored 1958 Jaguar XK150 sports car and a weekend for 30 on a luxury yacht.
For those on more modest budgets, there was a 14-meter statue specially created for the occasion by French artist JR, whose “Faces Places” documentary with Agnes Varda is one of the hits of the festival, which ends Sunday.
The final figure from this year’s auction will be released later Friday.
Since the galas began at the Cannes festival in 1993, the “Cinema Against AIDS” dinners have raised more than €174 million for the charity.
Source: Arab News
GMT 13:17 2018 Thursday ,11 October
Expect new elements at New Year’s Eve celebrationsGMT 07:04 2018 Saturday ,06 October
Perrenoud performs jazz concert at Opera HouseGMT 17:25 2018 Thursday ,06 September
Governor of Sevastopol invites Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters to play a concertGMT 17:06 2018 Friday ,05 January
The Golden Globes and Hollywood's gender equalityGMT 06:24 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Vienna waltzes the world into 2018 with New Year's concertGMT 17:34 2017 Thursday ,28 December
Beyonce's sister Solange reveals autonomic disorder, cancels showGMT 21:37 2017 Wednesday ,27 December
Rio expects three million for New Year's at CopacabanaGMT 21:30 2017 Wednesday ,27 December
Shakira cancels tour, hopes for June returnMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor