Stars convene for amfAR gala to raise millions for AIDS research

ANTIBES, France (AP) — Artwork by Adrien Brody and James Franco and a chance to sit courtside at a Knicks game with director Spike Lee were among the starry offerings at the annual amfAR Gala to raise money for AIDS research.

Held at the famous Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Thursday, the evening attracted scores of celebrities in the area for the Cannes Film Festival. Guests included Brody, Lee, Colman Domingo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, and Heidi Klum.

This year’s top items for sale included a Dodge Charger that featured in “Fast X,” sold off by Rodriguez, raising 475,000 euros ($536,843). There were also some Chopard pear-shaped, yellow-diamond earrings that reached 400,000 ($452,005) euros in the bidding.

During the meal guests were also entertained with musical performances from Ciara, who opened the night, Adam Lambert and headlining the dinner with Duran Duran. Guest shimmied from their tables to the front of the room to stand in front of the stage and sing along to hits like “Notorious” and “View to a Kill” (which wouldn't be the only James Bond reference of the night).

The sale included artwork from Brody — sold for 375,000 euros ($423,755) with lunch with the star thrown in — and Franco — (sold for 325,000 euros ($367,254) also with a lunch offered with the winning bid. Another highlight was a May 2025 George Condo painting that raised 1.15 million euros ($1.26 million).

Lee came to the stage and offered a surprise lot, a walk-on part in his next movie. Part of the way through the bidding he added tickets to sit next to him courtside at a New York Nicks game next season, driving the price up to 400,000 euros ($452,005).

The fashion show is a regular feature of the auction curated by Carine Roitfeld, this year was Bond-inspired and saw 27 models turn the middle of the dinning room into a catwalk as they paraded through the room waving at guests they recognized and posing for photos on route. The collection made 450,000 euros ($508,505) for the charity, auctioned off as one complete lot.

The Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (841 million euros) in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.

Louise Dixon has covered the amfAR gala for more than a decade. Among most memorable items she’s seen sold at auction are 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 that combined have raised more than 2 million euros.

For more coverage of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival

Spike Lee poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Coleman Domingo poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Adam Lambert poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Adrien Brody, left, and Georgina Chapman pose for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Ciara poses for photographers upon arrival at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, during the 78th Cannes international film festival, Cap d'Antibes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Former National Women's Soccer League director Tatjana Haenni will join Leipzig as chief executive next month, making her one of the most high-profile female executives working in European men's soccer.

A former Swiss national team player, Haenni was NWSL Chief Sporting Director from 2023 until earlier this year and before that headed up FIFA's work on women's soccer and the Women's World Cup.

Leipzig said Wednesday that Haenni will start as CEO on Jan. 1. She will oversee a club with men's and women's German Bundesliga teams and which reached the men's Champions League semifinals in 2020.

“I can’t wait to get started in January and to get to know the club on a deeper level,” Haenni said in a statement. “Together, we want to continue on what is already a successful path, and achieve our ambitious goals.”

As part of the wider Red Bull network of clubs around the world, Haenni is set to work together with ex-Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp, who has been the drinks giant's head of global soccer since last year.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Tatjana Haenni, FIFA deputy director of the competitions division and head of women's football, listens during the opening news conference for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, June 4, 2015. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)