Over $17 Million Raised at 31st Edition of amfAR Gala Cannes

Over $17 Million Raised at 31st Edition of amfAR Gala Cannes

Taraji P. Henson Hosted

Duran Duran, Ciara, and Adam Lambert Performed

Presented by Chopard

EPK LINK HERE: EPK

Antibes, France – May 23, 2025 — Over $17 million was raised last night for amfAR’s AIDS research programs at the 31st edition of amfAR Gala Cannes. The black-tie gala, which took place at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, was hosted by Academy Award-nominated actor, producer, and advocate Taraji P. Henson and featured captivating performances by iconic GRAMMY® Award-winning rock band Duran Duran, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Ciara, and GRAMMY®-nominated chart-topping superstar entertainer and current frontman of Queen Adam Lambert. 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 Spike Lee, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody, Michelle Rodriguez, Heidi Klum, Mariska Hargitay, Odell Beckham Jr., Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, James Franco, Georgina Chapman, Tom Kaulitz, Peter Hermann, Evan Ross, Paris Jackson, Robin Thicke, Mohammed Al Turki, Georgia Fowler, Sofia Resing, Vittoria Ceretti, Karolína Kurková, Edward Enninful, Ed Westwick, Amy Jackson, Natasha Poly, Coco Rocha, Teri Hatcher, Anna Hiltrop, Marina Ruy Barbosa, Pritika Swarup, Julian Lennon, Izabel Goulart, Ian Bohen, and amfAR Trustees Tony Mancilla and Vin Roberti, among others.

International GRAMMY®-winning pop sensation Ciara kicked off the night with an electrifying medley of her iconic hits – “Goodies,” “1,2 Step,” “Level Up,” – and her new single “Ecstasy.” The evening’s host, Taraji P. Henson, then opened the program by reflecting on the profound impact amfAR Gala Cannes has made over the past three decades. She highlighted that the event has raised nearly $300 million, funding groundbreaking research that has transformed HIV treatment and improved the lives of millions. Henson emphasized the power of being in the room together, reminding everyone that unity is key to achieving our ultimate goal: a healthier, AIDS-free world.
amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost, who is retiring this year, took the stage to reflect on the progress made during his 30 years at amfAR. “At amfAR, we’ve been dedicated to curing AIDS for forty years. Thanks to events like this one and people like you, we’re getting close. Did you know that so far, 10 people have been cured of AIDS,” Frost said, before issuing an urgent appeal that “we need to do a lot better than that.” Inspired by his words, guests bid with passion and purpose throughout the evening, fueling a remarkably successful auction led by the inimitable Simon de Pury.

A stunning feature of the evening was the “From Cannes With Love” Collection fashion show, curated by longtime amfAR supporter Carine Roitfeld. This year’s show paid homage to the iconic characters of international spy thrillers who are as powerful as they are mysterious. 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 Haute Joaillerie creations by Chopard. Participating designers included Alaïa, Ami Paris, Atsuko Kudo, Balenciaga, Chanel, Courrèges, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared², Duran Lantink, Elie Saab, GCDS, Jacquemus, LaQuan Smith, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Nina Ricci, North Face x Skims, Off-White, Prada, Richard Quinn, Rick Owens, Saint Laurent, Skims, Valentino, and Yanina Couture. The models in the fashion show included Barbara Palvin, Caroline Mendes, Valery Kaufman, Ella Richards, Dalton DuBois, Yilan Hua, Esther Santos, Kit Butler, Ung Ho, among others. Longtime amfAR supporter Heidi Klum, a chair of the event, joined fellow event chair Colman Domingo on stage to help de Pury sell the collection in its entirety.

Other auction highlights included a one-of-a-kind artwork created specially for amfAR Gala Cannes by George Condo, an original artwork by Adrien Brody and another by James Franco, Chopard earrings, a 2017 Dodge Charger car from the movie Fast X (Fast and Furious 10) auctioned off by one of the stars of the franchise, Michelle Rodriguez, and a surprise lot that featured a walk-on role in one of Spike Lee’s upcoming films. Lee also stunned the crowd when he added courtside seats to the New York Knicks game to the package.

In between the bidding on auction lots, globally-acclaimed vocal powerhouse Adam Lambert kept the energy in the room high with electrifying performances featuring special surprise guest Roger Taylor of Queen. Lambert had the crowd singing along to covers of three Queen hits “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Crazy Little Thing.”

The legendary Duran Duran closed the evening triumphantly, with guests singing and out of their seats with their iconic hits “Notorious,” “A View to a Kill”, “Ordinary World,” “Come Undone,” and “Girls on Film/Psycho Killer.”

Chairs of the 31st edition of amfAR Gala Cannes included Pedro Almodóvar, Angela Bassett, Odell Beckham Jr., Halle Berry, Len Blavatnik, Adrien Brody, Ron Burkle, Marion Cotillard, Tom Cruise, Colman Domingo, Alessandro Dusi, Laurence Escalante, David Glasser, Paris Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Heidi Klum, Spike Lee, Julian Lennon, Demi Moore, Coco Rocha, Carine Roitfeld, Caroline Scheufele, Russell Wilson & Ciara, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Yeoh, amfAR Trustee Vin Roberti, amfAR Trustee Tony Mancilla, and amfAR Board Co-Chairs T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy.

The evening’s Presenting Sponsor was Chopard. Signature sponsors were La Première Air France, Dorsia, and Kodiak Pictures.

The event was generously supported by generously supported by Beluga Vodka, CAP Gin, Champagne Telmont, Cookson Adventures, Dassai Sake, Gérard Bertrand Wines, Hedley Studios, Kiko Cosmetics, Rémy Martin, and RUMOR Rosé. After-party was held in association with h.wood Group.

About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, 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 more than $935 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.

Since amfAR’s late Founding International Chairman Dame Elizabeth Taylor hosted the first amfAR Gala Cannes in 1993 at the Moulin de Mougins, the benefit has become the most coveted ticket of the Cannes Film Festival and to date it has raised nearly $315 million for amfAR’s lifesaving AIDS research programs.

The amfAR Gala Cannes was produced by Andy Boose/AAB Productions.

Contact: Bennah Serfaty, amfAR Senior Director, Communications, bennah.serfaty@amfar.org

Over $17 Million Raised at 31st Edition of amfAR Gala Cannes