Musicians Cheyenne Jackson and Kelly Rowland with designer Kenneth Cole at the Amfar party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
Last night’s Amfar party at the Carlu—a stunning, glitzy fundraiser for Cinema Against AIDS timed to coincide with TIFF—was one of the most expensive tickets in town, with tables costing up to $50,000. It was no surprise, then, to see Canada’s ultra-elite, like Suzanne Rogers, Galen and Hilary Weston and Isadore Sharp, in attendance, along with plenty of corporate sponsors. They all came to get a glimpse of the mega star power the event brings out. Martin Sheen hosted the event, and son Emilio Estevez (who got in some good-natured ribbing: “You might recognize Martin from the picket line”) presented one of the auction items. Kelly Rowland, of Destiny’s Child and solo success, helped auction, too, promising to personally serenade the highest bidder before performing an acoustic version of “When Love Takes Over.”
We thought we’d be most excited to see Ace of Base perform, but we weren’t sold on the two new female members singing a disappointing version of “The Sign.” But if that ’90s throwback band isn’t enough to make this party the most eclectic in history, check out the rest of the guest list: Kenneth Cole (fashion designer), Richard and Rana Florida (academic power couple), Caroline Mulroney (daughter of Brian), Julian Schnabel (multimedia artist), Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock actor), Jason Pomeranc (owner of the Thompson Hotels), Bonnie Brooks (CEO of The Bay), Martha Wash (one of the original singers of “It’s Raining Men”), Susur Lee (local celeb chef), Mag Ruffman (of Road to Avonlea) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (knockout Montrealer from Entourage).
Our pictures from the night, below.
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Actor Martin Sheen, from The Way, with director and son Emilio Estevez at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Emilio Estevez, director of The Way, with actor and dad Martin Sheen at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Actor Martin Sheen, from The Way, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Emilio Estevez, director of The Way, with his fiancee, writer Sonja Magdevski at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Designer duo Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Canadian actor Mag Ruffman at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Kris Kwaten and actor Ryan Kwaten at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Actor Emmanuelle Chriqui at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musician Kelly Rowland, who performed later, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musician Kelly Rowland, who performed later, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Canadian politician Ruby Dhalla at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Toronto chef Susur Lee with his son, Levi Bent-Lee, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Designer Kenneth Cole at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Entertainment columnist Shinan Govani at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musician Cheyenne Jackson, who performed later, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musicians Cheyenne Jackson and Kelly Rowland, who performed later, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Outgoing editor-in-chief Ciara Hunt from Hello! Canada at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musicians Ace of Base at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musicians Ace of Base at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musicians Ace of Base at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Ellen Rowland with Phil Lind, vice-chairman of Rogers Communications, at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Edward and Suzanne Rogers at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Dignitas co-founder James Fraser and playwright David Young at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Singer Martha Wash at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Musicians Cheyenne Jackson and Kelly Rowland with designer Kenneth Cole at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Swedish band Ace of Base performing at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Swedish band Ace of Base performing at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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Swedish band Ace of Base performing at the amfAR party, a Cinema Against AIDS fundraiser at the Carlu (Image: Karon Liu)
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