It’s far more than the beautiful people, the glamorous night, the gowns and jewelry. It’s about the mission behind amfAR set forth by its founders Elizabeth Taylor and Dr. Mathilde Krim to find a cure for HIV. This is why everyone continues to gather for the amfAR Gala at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, during the Cannes International Film Festival, even 25-years later.
As they entered the stunning Gala, guests were greeted with glasses of premiere Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Champagne as well as inventive Absolut Elyx signature libations.
“Together we can achieve what those incredible women, Elizabeth Taylor and Dr. Mathilde Krim, set out to achieve, when they founded amfAR, to find a cure for HIV,” said Milla Jovovich, one of the 25th honorary chairwomen of amfAR Gala this year. Both her and director, producer, screenwriter, film marketer, and film distributor Ava DuVernay welcomed guests.
There’s no stopping a passionate and determined individual from doing great in the world. When a collective group shares that same passion for change, magic happens. This collective group includes Bold Films and Chopard, who presented the event, Pernod Ricard of Global Wine and Spirits who sponsored the nights’ swanky libations, its charitable entertainers, guests, and event coordinators.
The 25th amFAR Gala included new, big names in the contemporary world of fashion like the game-changing and beautiful Winnie Harlow, who became what feels like an overnight success from her days on Instagram. She wore a Zuhair Murad floor-length gown that not only enhanced her beauty but also complimented it.
Harlow also walked the fashion show auction curated by the editrix herself madam Carine Roitfeld. Other models gracing the runway was Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio, Halima Aden, and Natasha Poly. The collection raised $1.7 million.
Amongst items up for auction: a Pierce Brosnan original painting, which sold for $1.4 million; a fully restored and upgraded 1964 S3 Bentley Convertible from Byrnes Motor Trust Restorations (BMT), introduced by Heidi Klum and Benicio Del Toro, which sold for over $800,000; and a Joe Bradley painting which brought in nearly $1 million.
Sculptures by Ai Weiwei and Bernar Venet each received bids exceeding $500,000, and a McLaren Silver 570S Spider brought in $650,000.
Together, they raised a generous $6 million. After the live auctions, guests at the black-tie event enjoyed the night’s performances at the after-party and enjoyed premier libations from the Pernod Ricard portfolio including Perriet-Jouët Belle Époque 2011 and Absolut Elyx. amfAR‘s annual gala has been instrumental for the foundation’s continuous research for an HIV cure for over two decades. amfAR has generated more than $210 million.
“I want you all to bid like your lives depend on it,” said Jovovich. And they did.
Photo Credit: amfAR, Emma McIntyr, Getty Images for Pernod
