Without a doubt the hottest ticket in town during the Cannes film festival is not a premier ticket to a competition film, as most would think; in fact, it’s a ticket to the annual AMFAR Cinema Against Aids dinner and gala at the Hotel du Cap Eden Rock in cap d’Antibes. This decidedly elite event is attended by the most sought after celebrity and royalty accompanied by the world’s richest and most successful entrepreneurs. The event has been going on for 19 years now and always takes place near the close of the Cannes Film Festival. This year it took place on May 24th and was reported to have been the most successful year yet with $11 Million raised.

Naturally, when I got an invite to AMFAR I had to forfeit the screening of Lee Daniels’ competition film THE PAPERBOY (2012) and its after party to attend this impossible to miss illustrious event. When I arrived at the Hotel du Cap, I was met with a line of hundreds of vehicles filed up to enter the venue, the arrivals of the event’s guests dressed to knock out for the media frenzy white/red carpet. Me in my classic black suit suddenly felt quite insignificant and invisible next to some of the most stunning women I have ever seen in their evening’s finest striding alongside their men in penguin black tie affair.

To name a few of the celebrity there that night… Kylie Minogue, Paris Hilton, Sky Ferreira, Janet Jackson, Jessie J, Aloe Blacc, Heidi Klum, Rose Mc Gowan, Kirsten Dunst, Maiwenn, Nastassja Kinski, Asia Argento, Joely Richardson, Michelle Rodriguez, Elodie Bouchez, Chris Tucker, Gerard Butler, Rodrigo Santoro, Harvey Weinstein, Adrien Brody, Michel Hazanavicius, Berenice Bejo … and the list continues.

What a media fanfare on the white/red carpet! I have to say that the highlight of the dinner was near the end when singer Aloe Blacc stepped on stage to sing his ‘I need a dollar’ song and that was the moment that added substance to the evening, changing the rhythm and soon after a line of fun seeking celebrity filed like hungry ants towards the after party AMFAR gala at Eden Rock for the hottest gala in town during the Cannes Film Festival, a night not soon to be forgotten.

Written by Vanessa McMahon

photos by Vanessa McMahon

May 24th, 2012