As the last Thursday of the Cannes Film Festival arrives, the rich and famous leave the Croisette and head up the coast to Antibes, where the iconic Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc hosts the annual amfAR Gala. This star-studded event raises crucial funds for AIDS research, and this year's extravaganza is hosted by Geena Davis, with performances expected from Robbie Williams, Lizzo, and Zara Larsson.
A Legacy of Giving
Since its inception in 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (€841 million) to support its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. The Associated Press has covered the event for over a decade and will offer a livestream of the star arrivals on Thursday at 1600 GMT on YouTube and APNews.com.
The Arrival Experience
A special car pass is required to approach the exclusive Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc. Taxis and limousines wind through narrow French roads in a one-way system to reach the venue, then queue to drop off guests at the famous gates. Signs along the route remind impatient attendees not to walk the last 50 meters (164 feet) to the hotel. Once inside, guests receive wristbands with assigned table numbers for the exclusive dinner. They then queue again for their moment on the red carpet, where celebrities and regular guests pose shoulder to shoulder in front of branded boards. Meanwhile, the shy and thirsty sneak around the back of the red carpet to enter without fanfare.
The Garden and Cocktails
After dodging elaborate dress trains and selfie-takers, guests are ushered onto the back lawn, which stretches down to the sea with yachts bobbing in the distance as the sun sets. Bars line the route, serving cocktails, Champagne, and wines, while servers wander with trays of canapés and a DJ pumps out chilled tunes. Celebrity spotting at the bars is always top-notch; last year, Spike Lee and Adrien Brody had an animated chat over Champagne.
The Gala and Auction
Various works of art add to the impressive backdrop, admired before being auctioned later in the night. At 8 p.m., the first announcement tells guests to head to the tent for dinner. These announcements continue, sounding more urgent as guests linger in conversation and photos. Once inside, guests continue to mingle; Jeff Bezos was a notable dinner guest last year, attracting attention as he moved between tables. The dinner runs long into the night, interspersed with the auction. This year, guests can bid for a walk-on part in season six of Emily in Paris, a seven-day Arctic expedition with explorer Inge Solheim, and artwork by Tracey Emin and Andy Warhol. Last year's top items included a Dodge Charger driven by Vin Diesel in Fast X, which raised €475,000 ($536,843).
Entertainment and Fashion
Musical performances entertain guests during the meal. Last year, Ciara opened the night, and Adam Lambert headlined with Duran Duran, getting guests to sing along to hits like Notorious and View to a Kill. A fashion show is a regular feature of the auction; last year, a James Bond-inspired collection curated by Carine Roitfeld raised €450,000 ($508,505) for charity.
The After-Party
After the meal, auction, and entertainment, guests leave the tent for the after-party at the hotel's swimming pool, dancing into the early hours. Louise Dixon, who has covered the amfAR gala for over a decade, recalls memorable auction items including a game of soccer with David Beckham and his friends, a private dinner performance from Andrea Bocelli at his family home, and lunch with Robert De Niro, which together raised more than €2 million.
