Peter Dundas of Emilio Pucci Hosts a Table at the 2009 amFAR Gala

Vahina Giocante and Peter Dundas

CANNES, May 23, 2009/ FW/ — The most highly anticipated party in Cannes and arguably the most important charity event during the week, the 2009 amFAR gala attracted a star-studded crowd with some of them sitting at the Emilio Pucci table hosted by the maison’s new Creative Director Peter Dundas.

Held Thursday, May 21st at the Hotel du Cap at the French Riviera, the gala included a formal dinner, along with a world-renowned live auction, all to benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Didier Drouet, Krystina Martin-Steen, Lily Cole, Enrique Marciano, Vahina Giocante, Malgosia Bela, George Cortina, Stefano Tonchi, Lynn Hirschberg, Philip Utz and Karla Otto, with Peter Dundas as host made up the Emilio Pucci table

Harvey Weinstein and Sharon Stone, tireless advocates for AIDS research and for amfAR, helped in conducting the highly anticipated live auction with the assistance of several of the event chairs and other celebrities in attendance.

Notable items that were auctioned included President Bill Clinton’s alto sax that was signed and donated by the former U.S. president sold for 130,000 euros ($180,000).

A kiss from “Twilight” star’s Robert Patterson raised 20,000 euros ($28,000) and two were sold.

The annual Fundraiser for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy.

Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $290 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.