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Michael Buckner/Variety for Getty Images “Bonsoir!” said Lizzo, waving at my cell phone camera as she climbed out of a black car outside the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, around 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Grammy winner was to be one of a trio of performers (Robbie Williams and Zara Larsson were the others) at amfAR’s annual gala during the Cannes Film Festival, so she quickly made her way down the lavender carpet, which was packed with journalists and photographers.
Waiting at the end of the press line was “Summer House” star Ciara Miller, who worked as special guest correspondent for amfAR. Miller was arguably the most-Googled celeb at the black-tie gala, save for Oscar winner Rami Malek — whose latest film, “The Man I Love,” debuted to rave reviews at Cannes the night before. Aside from the sheer star power, Malek’s attendance at the glamorous event with the film’s director, Ira Sachs, was apt as amfAR raises funds for research to end HIV and AIDS, while “The Man I Love” centers on a theater performer navigating life and love following his AIDS diagnosis in 1980s New York.
Inside the cocktail reception, stars like Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, Coco Rocha, Robin Thicke, Lisa Rinna, Maura Higgins and Brooks Nader mixed and mingled while sipping drinks by Champagne Telmont, Gerard Bertrand Wines and Rumor Rosé, with the crystal blue sea as a stunning backdrop.
The host for the evening was Oscar winner Geena Davis, who was already omnipresent at this year’s Cannes. She starred on the official poster for the 79th edition with her “Thelma and Louise” co-star Susan Sarandon.
“All of us have a very important mission in mind to support amfAR’s lifesaving research,” Davis said onstage. “My first time in Cannes was in 1991, and at that time, there was very little we could do to help our friends and family besides giving them support and giving them love. But now, more than 30 years later, it is a very different story. Extraordinary treatments and procedures and options help many millions of people live long and healthy lives.”
amfAR CEO Kyle Clifford — the first HIV-positive person to lead the organization — later announced that their mission is expanding into research for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammation.
“We are leveraging everything HIV research has taught us to accelerate breakthroughs across human health,” Clifford said. “That is what amfAR provides, not just funding — hope.”
Part of that funding comes from the live auction, which takes up most of the hours-long event’s runtime. The centerpiece of the ceremony is a fashion show curated by Carine Roitfeld. Longoria helped auction the 19 runway looks for €210,000.
“Emily in Paris” star William Abadie introduced a walk-on role for Season 6 of the Netflix comedy. As the bidding heated up to €375,000, Abadie appeared to take a phone call from series creator Darren Starr, which confirmed that not one, but two people could appear on the show. (One might remember that, in 2024, amfAR auctioned off a role before Netflix officially renewed the show for Season 5. This time around, the streamer had already given the green light to the sixth and final season, so any awkwardness was avoided.)
Other top-ticket items at the auction included diamond earrings from Chopard (which went for €600K to billionaire businessman Len Blavatnik), a custom car from Denza and Chopard (€700K), a one-of-a-kind George Condo x Audemars Piguet watch (€1.45 million), and Andy Warhol’s Marilyn prints (€2.8 million). In all, amfAR raised €17.2 million or $20 million, which should cover the cost of legendary auctioneer Simon de Pury’s gavel, which he broke dramatically — and accidentally — at the end of the auction.
Lizzo was the first performer of the night, hyping up with the well-heeled crowd with her hit “About Damn Time.” Robbie Williams took the stage at the midway point, with models rocking out to “Let Me Entertain You” and swaying while he crooned “Angels.” To end the show, Zara Larsson performed her sunny pop anthem “Lush Life,” which was the perfect kickoff for the afterparty, which began just before 1 a.m. Guests, like “Entourage” and the original “Devil Wears Prada” star Adrien Grenier, made their way across the lawn to the Eden Roc to devour pizza slices and groove to a DJ set by Honey Dijon until the wee hours of the morning.
Scroll for a look inside the event.
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Ciara Miller
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images “Summer House” star — and soon-to-be “Dancing with the Stars” contestant — Ciara Miller walks the carpet at the amfAR Cannes gala.
