Venice’s historic Arsenale sparkled with new purpose last night, as Hollywood royalty and art world luminaries gathered for an intimate — yet impressively impactful — amfAR gala. The event proved that even in 2025, amid the dazzling circus of film festivals, genuine moments of connection still shine brightest.
Colman Domingo commanded the evening with effortless grace. His custom Valentino jacket — a shade of green that somehow managed to both complement and compete with the venue’s centuries-old architecture — set a tone of understated extravagance that carried throughout the night.
The gathering felt notably different from its flashier Cannes cousin. Perhaps it was the way the fading sunlight played across the lagoon, or maybe just the distinctly Venetian mix of old-world charm and contemporary edge. Whatever the reason, there was something special in the air — and not just the intoxicating blend of Aperol spritz and negronis wafting from the waterfront terrace.
Jude Law made an appearance, taking a brief break from the buzz surrounding his controversial turn as Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin.” The actor seemed almost relieved to trade political drama for philanthropy, though he couldn’t quite escape questions about his provocative new role.
The evening’s soundtrack shifted beautifully from sophisticated background beats to raw emotion when Paris Jackson took the stage. Her acoustic performance — surprisingly intimate for such a grand space — floated across tables where guests savored local Ombrina fish, a clever culinary nod to Venice’s maritime heritage.
But it was during the live auction that the night truly found its heart. Director Julian Schnabel, whose “In the Hand of Dante” has been generating serious festival buzz, made an unexpected move that electrified the room. After offering one of his signature plate portraits, he spontaneously doubled down — two pieces, 500,000 euros each. Singer Halsey claimed one, later revealing a deeply personal connection to the cause.
“A couple years ago, I got diagnosed with two pretty severe autoimmune diseases,” she shared on the red carpet, her candor cutting through the typical gala glitz. “amfAR’s work… it’s not just about HIV/AIDS anymore. They’re pushing boundaries in autoimmune and cancer research, helping people who might not have the same access I do.”
The foundation, approaching its 40th anniversary with nearly $950 million raised, found a passionate advocate in Schnabel, who received the Award of Inspiration. His support of amfAR’s mission seems to grow stronger with each passing year.
As the night wound down, pop sensation Ava Max transformed the sophisticated soirée into something approaching a high-end dance party. Even the most reserved guests couldn’t resist abandoning their seats — though some might deny it in the morning.
The evening concluded in true Venetian style: a flotilla of water taxis, their lights twinkling like stars reflected in the canal, carried their celebrity cargo into the night. They left behind an event that managed something increasingly rare in today’s world of charitable galas — a perfect balance of glamour and genuine purpose, where every euro raised felt like it really mattered.
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