Over $3.4 Million Raised at amfAR Venezia Gala

­Jude Law Presented Julian Schnabel with Award of Inspiration

Colman Domingo Hosted

Ava Max and Paris Jackson Performed

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Venice, Italy, September 1, 2025 — Over $3.4 million was raised on Sunday night at amfAR Venezia, a benefit gala dinner and auction that took place during the Venice International Film Festival at the legendary Arsenale di Venezia. This brings the total raised at amfAR Venezia to more than $10 million since 2021. Award-winning actor and amfAR supporter Colman Domingo hosted the evening, which celebrated artist and film director Julian Schnabel. Renowned actor Jude Law presented Schnabel with the amfAR Award of Inspiration. Ava Max and Paris Jackson gave special performances.

Colman Domingo opened the evening by welcoming guests and stressing the importance of supporting HIV/AIDS research because “to this day, every minute, one person dies of AIDS-related causes. And every single minute, two people join the 40 million people worldwide living with HIV.”

amfAR Board Co-Chair T. Ryan Greenawalt further supported Domingo’s words while also emphasizing that “HIV research benefits everyone. It’s not just new prevention options and treatments for people living with HIV. Advances in HIV research have led to new treatments for cancer, improved vaccine technology, and therapies for people with autoimmune disorders.”

Auctioneer Simon de Pury led the live auction, which included two commissioned plate portraits by Julian Schnabel. The artworks sold for a remarkable 500,000 euros each when Schnabel spontaneously offered to make portraits for each of the two top bidders, doubling the donation to amfAR. Other auction items included pieces by Andy Warhol, Landon Metz, and Jim Dine, a pair of Chopard earrings, and one-of-a kind luxury items and experiences.

Jude Law’s award presentation to Schnabel was a highlight of the night as he spoke of the artist’s longstanding and tireless generosity and support of amfAR’s work, noting that art donated by Schnabel to amfAR has raised “hundreds of thousands of dollars that amfAR has turned into research grants. We can’t ever know just which discoveries are attributable to Julian’s generosity, but that is measurable impact.” In Schnabel’s acceptance speech, he emphasized the critical need to continue to support amfAR’s work.

As the evening concluded, Ava Max had guests out of their seats dancing with dynamic performances of her hits “Kings and Queens,” “Lovin Myself,” and “Sweet but Psycho.”

Guests who came out to support amfAR included Jesse Williams, Caroline Scheufele, Halsey, Avan Jogia, Laura Harrier, Myha’la, Sofia Carson, Maria Borges, Sacha Baron Cohen, Dacre Montgomery, Nolan Funk, Simon de Pury, Alejandra Onieva, Joan Smalls, Edward Enninful, Leonie Hanne, Nathan Mitchell, Sofia Resing, Natasha Poonawalla, Madalina Ghenea, amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost, amfAR incoming CEO Kyle Clifford, amfAR Co-Chair of the Board T. Ryan Greenawalt, amfAR Trustees Amy Andelson, Vin Roberti, Tony Mancilla, Phill Wilson, and Jeff Schoenfeld, and more.

The Presenting Sponsor of amfAR Venezia was World Gold Council. Chopard was the Signature Sponsor. San Clemente Palace Venice was the Official Hotel Partner.

The event was generously supported by Boroli Wines, Campari, RUMOR Rosé, and Variety.

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 nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.

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

Credential Requests: 
Melissa Rubenstein, amfAR Media Relations Associate, melissa.rubenstein@amfar.org

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