Look To The Stars News: Michelle Yeoh

Toronto Film Festival To Host Cinema Against AIDS

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0000

On September 15, 2009, amfAR – The American Foundation for AIDS Research – and Dignitas International will partner on the first-ever Cinema Against AIDS event during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and amfAR Ambassador Michelle Yeoh will serve as chairs of the evening, along with amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, John Demsey, Milutin Gatsby, Trudy Grant, amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim, Dignitas co-founder Dr. James Orbinski, and Kevin Sullivan. Grammy Award-winning musical artist Sarah McLachlan will deliver a special performance.

The black-tie gala will take place at the acclaimed Carlu in Toronto, and will include cocktails, dinner prepared by renowned Canadian chef Jamie Kennedy, and a luxury live auction. amfAR and Dignitas will share all proceeds from the event, funding that will benefit crucial AIDS research initiatives and efforts to improve quality of life for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Over the years, amfAR has awarded 52 grants to HIV/AIDS organizations in Canada, totaling more than US$2.6 million, making Canada the recipient of more amfAR funding than any countries except the U.S. and Australia.

amfAR’s first Cinema Against AIDS benefit was held in Cannes during the 1993 Cannes International Film Festival and was hosted by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR’s Founding International Chairman. Since then, this annual black-tie gala has established itself as the most consistently exciting and well-publicized party held during the Cannes festival. In addition to Dame Elizabeth, who has hosted the benefit on seven occasions, amfAR Global Fundraising Chairman Sharon Stone has been a chair and auctioneer since 1995.

Cinema Against AIDS has also been held on various occasions during the Venice, Sundance, Rome, and Dubai film festivals, and in all cases these events have attracted a stunning guest list of top celebrities, entertainment industry elite, and international society. Traditionally, celebrities in the room assist with the live auction. Participants have included Ben Affleck, Prince Albert of Monaco, Lance Armstrong, Mary J. Blige, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Sofia Coppola, Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Catherine Deneuve, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sheryl Crow, Carla Fendi, Andy Garcia, Richard Gere, Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Anjelica Huston, Elizabeth Hurley, Iman, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Scarlett Johansson, Milla Jovovich, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Kline, Diane Kruger, Diego Luna, David Lynch, Madonna, Sienna Miller, Liza Minnelli, Kylie Minogue, Clive Owen, Robert Pattinson, Sean Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Lionel Richie, Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Kurt Russell, Claudia Schiffer, Julian Schnabel, Monica Seles, Mira Sorvino, Sylvester Stallone, Rod Stewart, Quentin Tarantino, Charlize Theron, Sigourney Weaver, Harvey Weinstein and Robin Williams, among others.

The film and entertainment communities have been committed and generous supporters of amfAR and the fight against AIDS since the start of the epidemic, and the Cinema Against AIDS galas have proven to be among the most high-profile and successful AIDS benefits worldwide. Since 1993, these signature amfAR events have played a pivotal role in focusing attention on the continued fight against AIDS, and have generated more than US$48 million in support of the foundation’s AIDS research programs.

Ticket info can be found here.

Robert Pattinson Puckers Up For Charity At Cannes

Fri, 22 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Twilight star Robert Pattinson discovered his lips are worth more than he ever imagined during a charity auction at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, May 21.

Two kisses with the actor were sold for over US$20,000 at the annual Cinema Against AIDS gala for the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

“If it goes well, maybe it will turn to something more!” joked Pattinson when auction host Harvey Weinstein introduced the opportunity.

Other items up for offer at the event included a Segway from Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger, and a saxophone donated by Bill Clinton that went for $130,000.

Attendees included supermodels Svetlana Metkina and Lily Cole, actresses Robin Wright Penn and Michelle Yeoh, as well as filmmakers Eli Roth and Lars Von Trier.

Madonna To Attend AIDS Charity Cannes Event

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:52:37 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Madonna, the Queen of Pop herself, will join Sharon Stone and Michelle Yeoh at this year’s annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser on May 22, during the 61st annual Cannes International Film Festival.

The event, which will benefit the American Foundation for AIDS Research, will take place at Le Moulin de Mougins and will include a formal dinner and a live auction. In addition, this year’s event will feature a short clip of I Am Because We Are , the Madonna-produced and -narrated documentary about children orphaned by AIDS in Malawi.

The organization’s annual Cinema Against AIDS galas have generated more than $33 million for essential AIDS research since 1993, and have been hosted by Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, and Sir Elton John. Last year’s live auction raised $4 million, making a total of $7 million for the night, and featured a surprise performance by Kylie Minogue.

A full screening of I Am Because We Are is scheduled to take place in Cannes the evening before the gala, and will tie in with amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS event.

Tables for this year’s Cinema Against AIDS will range in price from $40,000 to $150,000. For event reservations and details, visit www.amfar.org.

Stars Keep On Giving

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:28:26 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The giving just keeps on going this holiday season, with a whole bunch of celebrities donating items to charity auctions, and others taking the time to attend events and fork out massive amounts of money for good causes.

Such was the case on December 11, when the husband and wife team of Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith paid $50,000 for a pair of artworks by Joan Miro and Salvador Dali at an auction in Chile.

“They bought the two works for a price much higher than their commercial value, because the proceeds of the auction went to [”UNICEF":http://www.looktothestars.org/charity/1-unicef]," said Denise Ratinoff, head of the auction house that ran the event. “It was virtually a donation to UNICEF, and it helped a lot. Their presence in the auction made many other people also pay steeply for what they purchased.”

The previous day, on the other side of the world, another auction also saw generous donations for a good cause. A classic car belonging to actress Sharon Stone was sold for $400,000 at a charity auction during Dubai’s fourth international film festival, with the money going to the American Foundation for AIDS Research, of which Stone is the Global Fundraising Chairperson.

The 1961 Lincoln Continental was valued at only a fraction of the price it attracted, and went to a mystery bidder. It was the biggest item to be sold at the event, which drew other celebrity guests such as Michelle Yeoh and Hayden Christenson, and raised a total of $3 million for the charity.

Rockers Linkin Park launched their third charity auction through their non-profit organization, Music for Relief, last week, and raised thousands of dollars for survivors of the November 15 cyclone in Bangladesh.

The band donated items such as VIP concert tickets and a customized Xbox to the eBay auction, and were joined by donations from Avril Lavigne, the Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna, Avenged Sevenfold, Slayer, and the Deftones, with all proceeds going to the humanitarian organization, CARE.

Over 3,500 people were killed during the cyclone, and many more were left homeless, with the government seeking $2.2 billion in foreign aid to assist with helping survivors. The auction followed Linkin Park’s auction in November to raise money for victims of the California wildfires.

That auction may have finished, but one still running right now offers bidders a vehicle with a difference – a BugE. If you don’t know what a BugE is (or even how to pronounce it – the advertising information says it is pronounced “Bugeeeeeeeee”), then you are not the only one. However, to enlighten you a little bit, a BugE is a clean, green cross between a motorcycle and a three-wheeled car that draws its power from electricity stored in batteries, instead of from harmful liquid fuels. And this particular BugE up for sale has been signed by nearly 100 different celebrities, such as John Legend, Rodney Peete, Ne-Yo, and Chris Daughtry.

The eBay auction runs until December 20, and 30% of the proceeds will go to Autism Speaks to help people who struggle with this debilitating condition.

Another celebrity stepping into the world of internet auctions this month is Brad Pitt, who is going to part with his favorite gray hat. Pitt and his gray cap have seemed inseparable since he moved to New Orleans, and he has worn it for photos, at the Beowulf movie premier, and even during his recent Larry King Live interview. But now he is going to throw his hat into the ring, so to speak, for charity, with all proceeds going to his Make It Right organization. There will be more information when the auction dates are finalized.

And finally today, Paris Hilton is set to make a splash with her new champagne in a can, Rich Prosecco.

The hotel heiress was in Berlin, Germany, last week to launch her new “bubbly blonde” drink – which comes in original, passion fruit, and strawberry flavors – and to announce that 20% of all sales will go to a charity that provides fresh drinking water to those in need.

“It is the perfect ‘starter drink’ for your night out,” said the 26-year-old. “Or a special pleasure as a reward for the end of your day.”

The drink will be released in the US early next year.

Michelle Yeoh Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:56:53 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

Actress and former beauty queen Michelle Yeoh has joined WildAid in utilizing YouTube to post videos on the wildlife poaching crisis. WildAid is a non-profit organization that seeks to put an end to illegal wildlife trade “by focusing on awareness to reduce the demand for threatened and endangered species products and to increase public support for wildlife conservation.”

With awareness in mind, using WildAid’s motto: When the buying stops the killing can too, Jackie Chan, Ralph Fiennes, Ang Lee, Minnie Driver and other stars have posted short public service announcement videos on YouTube as well, Chan’s being the most graphic, against the illegal trade and its costs.

WildAid works worldwide with governments, communities and celebrities to make wildlife conservation a global priority.

Look To The Stars News: Michelle Yeoh

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