Singer Halsey placed the winning bid for the top lot at the amfAR Venezia fundraiser Sunday, saying on the red carpet that the foundation’s work could not be closer to home and that amfAR had helped her personally. The event, hosted at the Arsenale during the Venice Film Festival, raised $3.4 million through a live auction of contemporary artworks, jewelry and destination vacations.
The evening was led by actor Colman Domingo, who served as host in a bright green custom Valentino jacket and delivered impassioned remarks. The atmosphere was more intimate than amfAR’s Cannes counterpart, but still drew a high-profile crowd including Jude Law, who is in Venice to promote The Wizard of the Kremlin.
The evening began on a waterfront terrace where guests enjoyed champagne, canapés and Italian spritz and negronis while a DJ spun music and attendees viewed pieces slated for auction. As guests were seated for a traditional Venetian dinner featuring Ombrina fish, singer Paris Jackson performed an acoustic set on stage.
During the seated portion of the dinner, an auctioneer called for bids on a selection of contemporary artworks, jewelry and travel packages, ultimately bringing the night’s total to $3.4 million. Organizers said proceeds will support amfAR’s work in HIV/AIDS research and related programs.
Attendees described the event as a blend of fundraising and festival socializing, with moments of performance and ceremony interspersed with conversations about the charitable aims of the foundation. Halsey, who has been public about her health and advocacy work, spoke about the personal importance of amfAR’s mission on the red carpet before the auction.
The amfAR gala in Venice continues the foundation’s practice of staging high-profile fundraisers alongside major film festivals to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS research. While smaller and more low-key than some of its counterparts, the Venezia event maintains a focus on art, celebrity participation and substantial philanthropic results.
Organizers and attendees noted that the auction results will be applied to amfAR’s global initiatives. The gala’s mixture of music, art and celebrity drew attention both to the foundation’s fundraising goals and to the wider cultural calendar of the Venice Film Festival.