Portrait of Leonardo DiCaprio valued at $1.29 million at a charity auction near Cannes

Stars turned their backs on the red carpet to donate funds to AIDS research

Stars including Queen Latifah, Jeffrey Wright and Heidi Klum escaped the hustle and bustle of the Cannes Film Festival to attend a charity fundraiser for AIDS research at a secluded luxury hotel in the nearby resort town of Antibes, Reuters and Associated Press reported. pres.

“I wanted to be here tonight because I think it’s such a wonderful charity event that I just have to do what I can to help,” said singer Bibi Rexha, one of the stars who took part in Thursday’s event.

In addition to Rexha, Gladys Knight, Adam Lambert and Halsey entertained the generously donating guests, and Queen Latifah hosted the evening, which included a fashion show and auction.

The purpose of the lavish evening was to raise money on behalf of the amfAR Foundation for AIDS Research, which also supports HIV prevention, treatment education and legal advocacy.

“Our goal is to have a cure for everyone,” amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost said on the event’s blue carpet.

Before dinner, guests strolled around the hotel’s garden paradise overlooking the sea and huge yacht, sipping champagne and perusing the auction items.

A painting titled “Handsome Leonardo DiCaprio Looking Away,” signed by the actor and author-artist Damien Hirst, was among the auction items and fetched $1.29 million.

A geometric figure made of steel, glass and LED lights, part of the set design of the movie “Knives Out 2”, was also offered for purchase. A pair of Chopard white gold and diamond earrings sold for $295,000. The centerpiece was a unique Aston Martin sports car, the first of its kind in the world, which was sold by Eva Longoria for $1.6 million.

Heidi Klum wore a pale green feather dress that left a trail of fluffy feathers in her wake, while Rexha wore a ribbon dress that was so big it looked like a pair of wings. Guests ended the evening dancing until the early hours at the after-party, which was held by the hotel’s swimming pool.

The cheapest ticket for one guest started at $25,000, and $500,000 could buy a prime seat for 12 guests at the formal dinner.

The amfAR Foundation announced that since 1985 it has invested nearly $600 million in its programs and awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams around the world.