The annual amfAR “Cinema against AIDS” gala is always the flashiest of all events at Cannes film festival. And this year’s extravaganza was no exception, only bigger and flashier. Over the weekend, A-list stars flocked through the gates of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc where the theme of night seemed to be Couture ostentation. From Katy Perry’s flamenco inspired Marchesa to Rosie Huntington Whiteley’s crystal studded Galvan for Opening Ceremony, the it-girls of entertainment and some of the world’s most powerful and wealthy came together for a cause very close to the heart of the industry.
Every year, the charity supports AIDS research programs around the world and the search for a cure. Lead by Simon de Pury, some of this year’s fancy auctions included a vacation on a yacht with a staff of 24, a monumental Damien Hirst sculpture, and a weeklong stay at Leonardo DiCaprio’s Palm Springs house. Another addition to the auction included Carine Roitfeld’s Disco Collection fashion show where more than 30 dresses were up for grabs, each from a different designer and modelled on a Studio 54 themed runway by the likes of Karlie, Jourdan, Bella, and Doutzen. The fashion show raised more than $1 million and the benefit took in $25 million for AIDS research, in all.
