FASHION Magazine

See the red carpet pictures from the Cannes amfAR Gala 2013 »

It was a cool, wet week for the Cannes Film Festival, but the skies cleared in time to cast a warm glow over the 20th annual Cinema Against AIDS amfAR (the Foundation for AIDS research) Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.

Our tinted Mercedes SUV was one of many that lined a steep incline to the luxurious venue just outside of Cannes. After passing through gates (with a smattering of fans waving), we were led past a pack of photographers who urged us civilians to “hurry up!” so they could shoot the likes of Heidi Klum, Karlie Kloss, Joan Smalls, Aishwarya Rai, Rosario Dawson and Zhang Ziyi. 

Inside the main house we spotted Adrien Brody waiting for his girlfriend outside a washroom, while John Taylor of Duran Duran air-kissed a friend. We moved to the rear of the building to arrive atop a wide dramatic staircase. A long path leading to the sea was covered in a cushion-like platform. Perhaps to protect the grass? Or visitors’ heels? 

Nearby we saw Jessica Chastain and Milla Jovovich posing playfully with host Sharon Stone for an event photographer. Down the stairs were tables stacked with Moët & Chandon Imperial. I drained my glass as Jeremy Renner popped out from a shrub and Pucci designer Peter Dundas wandered by laughing, with two models on either arm. A ragtime jazz band played as we followed the band in to dinner. En route we passed a seated Leonardo DiCaprio talking with Goldie Hawn—over the evening he was lauded repeatedly for his philanthropic efforts.