The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $900 million in support of its programmes and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.
amfAR Gala Cannes has raised a cumulative total of more than $264 million for amfAR’s lifesaving AIDS research. This extraordinary success has enabled the Foundation to make critical research investments that have brought us within reach of a cure for HIV.
At the 30th edition of amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc $16 million was raised last night. The black tie gala, which was hosted by actress, producer, and New York Times best-selling author, Demi Moore, featured a spectacular performance by legendary icon, Cher, and captivating performances by Nick Jonas and Jess Glynne. The evening also included a dinner, a live auction of one-of-a kind luxury items and contemporary art, and a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld.
Guests who came out to support amfAR included Michelle Yeoh, Heidi Klum, Leni Klum, Andie MacDowell, Diane Kruger, Colman Domingo, Carine Roitfeld, Mohammed Al-Turki, Caroline Scheufele, Michelle Rodriguez, Maria Bakalova, Odell Beckham Jr., Bianca Balti, Winnie Harlow, Kyle Kuzma, Diplo, Joe Jonas, Tommy Hilfiger, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Paris Jackson, Petra Nemcova, Karolina Kurkova, Brad Goreski, Ellen von Unwerth, Coco Rocha, Elsa Hosk, Marina Ruy Barbosa, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, Alex Scott, Bella Thorne, Julian Lennon, amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost, and amfAR Board Co-Chairs T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy.
Jess Glynne opened the gala with an electrifying medley of her hits, “Hold My Hand” and “Easy.” Host Demi Moore then welcomed guests and emphasized the importance of supporting amfAR’s work in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Moore also reminisced about the last time she attended amfAR Cannes in 1997, when she stepped in as a last-minute surprise host for the late, great Dame Elizabeth Taylor.
amfAR Board Co-Chairs T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy took the stage to thank the event’s generous sponsors and speak about the importance of amfAR’s mission, while Academy Award-winning actress and longtime amfAR supporter, Michelle Yeoh, spoke about how amfAR had always been a “beacon of hope for so many,” and how she too shared the Foundation’s belief in “the power of science to overcome disease.” Guests took her words to heart and bid generously and enthusiastically throughout the night in a highly successful auction, led by the inimitable Simon de Pury.
A stunning feature of the evening was the Fairy Tales Collection fashion show, curated by longtime amfAR supporter Carine Roitfeld. The collection featured one-of-a-kind looks from the world’s most celebrated fashion houses with all latex couture provided by Atsuko Kudo and jewellery by Chopard. Participating designers included Chanel, Jacquemus, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Dior, Balenciaga, Rabanne, GCDS, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Alaïa, DSquared, Richard Quinn, Loewe, Off-White, Homolog, Laquan Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens, Versace, Maison Margiela, Saint Laurent, Courrèges, Schiaparelli, and Ami Paris.
Other auction highlights included a work by Kenny Scharf, painted onsite at the Hôtel du Cap in the days before the event, a Damien Hirst spot painting, an Andy Warhol Elizabeth Taylor print, some exquisite Chopard earrings previously worn by Demi Moore at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, and a one-of-a-kind experience with Cher.
Kelly Rowland and Colman Domingo both graced the stage to introduce a video commemorating some of the incredible talents from fashion, entertainment, and the arts who we lost to AIDS in the early days of the epidemic.
In between the bidding on auction lots, Nick Jonas kept the energy in the room high with performances of his hit song “Jealous” and a cover of the classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The crowd was thrilled when his brother, Joe Jonas, joined him on stage for an impromptu performance of DNCE’s hit “Cake by the Ocean.”
The evening concluded with guests rushing to the stage for Cher’s spectacular performance of four songs, including covers of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis” and ABBA’s “Waterloo,” along with her iconic originals “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “Believe.”
Presenting Sponsors were Chopard and Red Sea International Film Festival. Signature sponsors were DraftKings and Homolog. The amfAR Gala Cannes was produced by Andy Boose/AAB Productions.
