On Sunday night on the island of Lido — amid the goings on of the 81st Venice Film Festival — amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, held its annual gala.
Attendees also posed with photos at the amfAR photo booth, and socialized around the art that would be auctioned off at the gala.
Julian Lennon told The Hollywood Reporter at the event that he’s “always wanted to be able to help a bit more than I have in supporting amfAR.
Can we give a hand to the amazing Elizabeth Taylor for her impact in the fight against AIDS?” Beckinsale asked to applause.
The actor is also in Venice premiering his latest film, Babygirl, which is in competition at this year’s festival.
He spoke to THR privately before the event, saying, “It feels to me more than a recognition to be here.
In reality, they are asking: ‘Help us.’ I’m totally open to do this because of the 1993 film Philadelphia with film director Jonathan Demme.
In a way I have been very attached to the people with HIV/AIDS, to the families and to their friends.
But the extra said he wouldn’t make it, as AIDS had ravaged his body and he was close to the end.
Giving a sobering speech, everyone in the room was stone-cold silent as the actor shared his passion for HIV and AIDS awareness.
AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, held its annual gala on Sunday night on the island of Lido, amidst the activities of the 81st Venice Film Festival. The event was hosted at Hangar Nicelli and was made possible by the World Gold Council, the Red Sea International Film Festival, Chopard, Campari, and the San Clemente Palace Kempinski Hotel. Additional sponsors included Uber, Boroli Wines, and Rumor Rosé.
Following their boat ride to the airport, guests captured pictures on the blue carpet and enjoyed cocktail hour with a Campari bar. Many dressed in gowns and black tie. In addition, attendees mingled around the artwork up for auction at the gala and posed for pictures at the amfAR photo booth.
Julian Lennon stated to The Hollywood Reporter during the event that he has “always wanted to be able to help a bit more than I have in supporting amfAR.”. I am currently having my largest exhibition to date in Venice, which is also my first exhibition ever. His show, “Whispers – A Retrospective of Julian Lennon,” is up until November. 24 in a collaborative effort by Fondazione Giorgio Cinio and Marsilio Arte at La Stanze della Fotografia.
“My photographer coffee table book will be released for the first time next month, coinciding with the exhibition of the piece I’m donating. We selected a piece that we hope will fetch the highest price at auction,” he said. “It’s a unique one, with my father [Beatle John Lennon] behind Bono, back in his Hamburg days.”. I remember thinking, “That’s a shot and a half,” as I lay on the floor looking up at Bono’s picture in the background. When I first took the picture, I called it a “Lennon Sandwich.”. Bono gave us his blessing, so maybe we can get those approved and raise a respectable sum. “.
Before the dinner, Kevin Robert Frost, CEO of amfAR, also discussed the organization’s decision to move the gala to a new location in Venice each year in an interview with THR. We mix things up for a variety of reasons, but the main one is that the event has become bigger. We had 150 people the first year, and tonight we’ll have 450,” he remarked. “We thought it would be cool doing it at an airport; we’ve never done an airport before and I think the space looks very magnificent and I’m very happy,” the speaker continued. “This year was particularly challenging because of the film festival and the Biennale — when they happen at the same time, spaces just get snapped up very quickly.”. “.
Regarding the progress made by amfAR since its previous Venice gala, Frost stated, “We have now had seven people cured of HIV — two more were reported in the last year,” emphasizing that AIDS is a process rather than a disease that can be cured quickly. It has always seemed to me that we would begin to cure a subset of people occasionally, then a larger subset of people more frequently, until we could eventually cure the majority of people most of the time. We are definitely in the early stages; occasionally, we are able to cure some patients. We are still far from where we should be, but developing the science is the most important thing when you consider that 40 million people are still infected. “.
After welcoming everyone and thanking the sponsors as guests took their seats inside the gala, actress Kate Beckinsale showed a video showcasing the work that amfAR has done in AIDS research and prevention since Elizabeth Taylor founded the organization in 1995. “I think Taylor is always here, even though she isn’t here right now. In response to applause, Beckinsale said, “Can we give a hand to the amazing Elizabeth Taylor for her impact in the fight against AIDS?”. After that, Rumor Willis, the actresses Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughter, sang a jazzy and soulful version of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.”. “AmfAR’s work truly transforms lives,” she said, addressing the crowd following her first song. “.
Afterwards, Antonio Banderas appeared on stage to accept the Global Impact Award from amfAR. Additionally, the actor is in Venice for the Venice premiere of Babygirl, his most recent film that is competing at the festival this year.
Before the event, he had a private conversation with THR in which he said, “To me, being here feels like more than just a recognition.”. It seems to be an invitation. This is how they go about things. Actually, what they’re pleading for is assistance. The 1993 movie Philadelphia, which starred Jonathan Demme as the director, has me completely game to do this. I feel like I’ve developed a strong bond with the families, friends, and fellow HIV/AIDS sufferers. Since a lot of my friends lost loved ones to this illness, I see it as an invitation, and I’m going to accept it and work with the activist inside of me. “.
Banderas said on stage, “use me for this cause of HIV/AIDS,” adding that he had promised an extra he would see them at the premiere after filming Philadelphia. However, the extra claimed he was near death and wouldn’t survive because AIDS had destroyed his body.
At the function, Richard Gere received the amfAR Award of Inspiration as another honor. The actor gave a sobering speech that left everyone in the room stunned as he discussed his passion for raising awareness of HIV and AIDS. I don’t want to go back to that time,” Gere remarked, alluding to the AIDS crises that shook the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. There was so much discussion back then that this was clearly God’s retribution. I had so many friend losses. We can work together to solve any issue; this is not a game. “.
The organization has hosted events in numerous other cities and has held galas in Cannes, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles. For Frost, though, Venice is not like any other. “There is no city on Earth as magical as this one.”. “I’ve been to this city countless times and I always feel the same way, but if you’ve never been here before, you quickly realize that Venice is unlike anywhere else in the world—it’s truly magical,” the man remarked.
With renditions of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Dilemma,” “Like This,” “Say My Name,” “Bootylicious,” and “When Love Takes Over,” Kelly Rowland completed the evening. “.
