Celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Christina Ricci and Matt Dillon will attend this year’s amFAR gala to be held as part of the Dubai International Film Festival.
The event will take place on December 10 at the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the stars will be joined by Queen Noor of Jordan and others.
A limited number of seats are open and guests can take part in a racy auction for products ranging from a one-of-a-kind Chanel bag personally created by Karl Lagerfeld, especially for amfAR to Cartier’s Market Special Edition Middle East Watch and many more. Tickets can be bought from the amfAR website (www.amfar.org) or from the local amfAR Dubai office (call 04-4068786).
DIFF Managing Director Shivani Pandya said the amfAR charity auction is a high point in the social calendar of Dubai. “Apart from the exclusivity of the objects that will go under hammer and the presence of celebrities from around the world, the event underscores the commitment of Dubai to partner in causes of global significance.”
The Marilyn Monroe portrait is by Milena Zevu, who has collaborated with the likes of David Beckham, Pele, Ronaldo and others to create one-of-a-kind artworks. All the crystals are inserted by hand to the artistic impression, adding to its exquisite value. The Brooke Shields 1982 portrait is by Patrick Demarchelier, one of the world’s most celebrated photographers, who has captured the moods of David Bowie, Madonna and Princess Diana.
Another allure for participants will be an all paid luxury trip for two to Las Vegas, with stay at the deluxe MGM Bellagio organized by Dubai Pearl and business class seats on Emirates Airlines. The lucky bidder will receive US$5000 to spend courtesy Dubai Duty Free. A Dubai Pearl Bellagio Residence will also be auctioned, and Dubai Pearl is donating the first AED2 million of the proceeds to amfAR.
The black alligator Chanel bag, the only one of its kind in the world, features the classic Chanel double C snap lock made of white gold and inlaid with 334 diamonds. The bag was introduced by Madonna at amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS 2008, and includes her personal items.
The Cartier Middle East Watch, from limited and numbered edition of 20, is partially paved with diamonds and enameled, and has been designed exclusively for the opening of Cartier’s Burj Dubai boutique.
Also to go under the hammer is Los Angeles based artist Sandeep Mukherjee’s Untitled evoking a multitude of associations with natural phenomena including skin cells, water ripples, planetary orbits, sun spots and even ancient tree rings. The painting is valued at US$12,000.
Art lovers can also bid for the Horse Neck series by one of the world’s foremost fashion photographers Steven Klein courtesy of Staley Wise Gallery. Other items that go under the hammer are dream skiing in the Alps packages for 12 courtesy of La Compagnie, valued at US$210,000; and Shanghai/Versace packages offering a round-trip airfare to Shanghai for two, luxury VIP accommodation and two VIP tickets to the inaugural amfAR Asia event and Versace component. Participants can also bid for some unique celebrity-related experiences and fancy cars among other items.
Dubai Pearl is the title sponsor of the Cinema Against AIDS gala, which last year hosted celebrities including Salma Hayek, Goldie Hawn, Laura Linney, Jeffrey Wright, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Preity Zinta, Oliver Stone, Terry Gilliam, Giancarlo Giannini, Pierfrancesco Favino and Anna Ferzetti amongst others.
The funds raised support amfAR’s activities focused on AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. amfAR has invested nearly US$290 million in its programmes and awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.
More information can be found here.
