Enjoy Cannes Glitterati Step Up For AIDS Charity Gala

Model Eva Herzigova, left, and Hollywood

actress Sharon Stone at the amfAR’s gala

event at the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

Sharon Stone showed up in a daring dress, John Travolta flew in on his plane, and even Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst made an appearance to support the Cannes film festival’s largest charity ball to raise money for AIDS research, reports India Today. At the 21st annual event organised by amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, the film world’s glitterati assembled on Thursday night to raise $38 million for charity, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein announced. The amfAR gala, held at the luxurious five-star Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, perched over the blue water of the French Riviera not far from Cannes, is the biggest fundraising event at the world’s largest and most prestigious film festival. The benefit was first hosted by Elizabeth Taylor. With celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Kylie Minogue, Dita Von Teese, Adrien Brody, Paris Hilton and even Catherine Deneuve in attendance, the event was the place to be as the prestigious film festival began to wind down, with top prizes to be awarded on May 25. AmfAR has raised some USD 120 million in the 20 years it has thrown the gala during the Cannes film festival. The go-to event relies on celebrity power and high-profile donations, and the 900-person guest list on Thursday included models, actors and the who’s-who of the film world. Champagne, a Pablo Picasso sketch, a motorcycle and a trip on a yacht were auctioned at the high-profile event, as DiCaprio puffed on an electronic cigarette, surrounded by two bodyguards, and Lana Del Rey and Robin Thicke performed to the crowd. Raising the most money, at 11 million euros (USD15 million), was the auction of a gilded skeleton of a woolly mammoth in a steel and glass box, by artist Damien Hirst. The winning bidder, Ukrainian businessman Leonard Blavatnik told Reuters he was not sure where he would put the massive beast. ‘I don’t know yet. It was unexpected,’ said Blavatnik, who sat next to Cannes jury president Jane Campion at the event and was congratulated by Justin Bieber after his win. A Picasso sketch went for 380,000 euros, an Andy Warhol print of Marilyn Monroe was sold for 350,000 euros, a cellar of champagne found its winning bid at 150,000 euros, and a pair of Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld gloves found a bidder at 10,000 euros. ‘Ladies, ladies, ladies, look at my necklace,’ cooed Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, ex-supermodel and former first lady of France, introducing a Bulgari serpentine necklace, which ultimately was auctioned for 400,000 euros.------

First Listen Of Michael Jackson New Album Xscape

Michael Jackson

The late pop legend Michael Jackson has topped the album charts, nearly five years since his death, with Xscape.

The second posthumous album of his previously unreleased tracks features eight songs recorded between 1983 and 1999.

It was reworked by producers including Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins and Stargate.

Lily Allen's Sheezus fell to number six, while in the singles chart Rita Ora's I Will Never Let You Down debuted at number one.

The rest of the album chart saw another new entry at number two with US rockers The Black Keys' latest release Turn Blue. Paloma Faith's A Perfect Contradiction was at three while Paolo Nutini's A Caustic Love was at four.

Winner in Austria concert

Conchita Wurst sang her Eurovision winning song for a crowd in Vienna

Bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst has given her first public concert since her Eurovision victory this month, performing in Vienna on Sunday.

She was greeted by thousands of fans, including gay couples. Many waved rainbow flags or wore fake beards.

Earlier, the Austrian was received by Chancellor Werner Faymann, who thanked Conchita for promoting tolerance.

However, the concert was criticised by the conservative People's Party, which is part of the coalition government.

Conchita, who is also known as Tom Neuwirth, said: "I am so humbled and happy that I could bring this victory back home.

"This was not just a victory for me alone, but for a whole community of people who believe in a progressive future."

An enthusiastic crowd, many waving rainbow flags, turned out to hear Conchita's first public concert since her Eurovision victory

Conchita Wurst (left) was received by Chancellor Werner Faymann, who lauded her message of tolerance

'Lust for life': Mr Faymann said it was an honour to have Conchita perform in Austria.

"You showed a message from our country, from Europe, in a direction that is known as tolerance, love and lust for life," he said.

Mr Faymann's Social Democrats are hoping that Conchita's win in Eurovision will spur on their coalition partners, the conservative People's Party, to advance gay rights in Austria, including equal marriage rights, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from Vienna.

One senior conservative politician accused Mr Faymann of taking advantage of an artist for political gain, our correspondent adds.

However, the People's Party has said it will discuss gay rights issues by the summer.