amfAR to Promote AIDS Awareness in the Middle East with Third Annual Cinema Against AIDS Dubai
Event Chairs Matt Dillon and Christina Ricci Will Travel to Dubai; Mandy Moore to Perform
EVENT UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HRH PRINCESS HAYA AL HUSSEIN, PRESENTED BY THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, SPONSORED BY DUBAI PEARL, and CO-SPONSORED BY CARTIER
Media Contacts:
Bennah Serfaty, Senior Director, Communications, (212) 806-1607 or bennah.serfaty@amfar.org
Natalie Jacobs, Coordinator, Media Relations, +971 4 406 8786 or natalie.jacobs@amfar.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, N.Y., December 1, 2009—Under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein, Matt Dillon, Christina Ricci, and Mandy Moore will appear at the third annual Cinema Against AIDS Dubai benefit on behalf of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research on December 10, 2009. As chairs of the event, along with Special Chair Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, and fellow Event Chairs Abdul Majid Al Fahim, Louis Ferla, Milutin Gatsby, and Dubai International Film Festival Chairman Abdulhamid M. Juma, Dillon and Ricci will help raise funds for amfAR’s HIV/AIDS programs and heighten awareness of the AIDS epidemic in the Gulf region. Cinema Against AIDS Dubai will be presented by the Dubai International Film Festival and sponsored by Dubai Pearl.
The black-tie gala will take place at The Gate at the Dubai International Financial Centre. Following the successful format of amfAR’s other Cinema Against AIDS events, including the long-running Cinema Against AIDS Cannes, the evening will feature a dinner, entertainment, and a celebrity-filled live auction, with all proceeds going directly to amfAR’s life-saving HIV/AIDS programs. Actress and acclaimed singer Mandy Moore will deliver a special performance.
amfAR’s first Cinema Against AIDS benefit was held in Cannes during the 1993 International Film Festival and hosted by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR’s founding international chairman. Taylor was one of the first in Hollywood who spoke out about HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s. Since then, amfAR has had a long tradition of increasing awareness and raising funds for this cause all over the world. Sharon Stone, amfAR’s global fundraising chair, now carries on what Elizabeth Taylor began by traveling internationally for the Foundation and tirelessly working to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and support for AIDS research.
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 consistently successful events worldwide. Cinema Against AIDS has also been held on various occasions during the Rome, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto film festivals.
Since 1993, these signature amfAR benefits have played a pivotal role in focusing attention on the continued fight against AIDS and have generated more than $48 million in support for the Foundation’s AIDS research programs.
About amfAR
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.
Dubai International Film Festival
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) was launched in December 2004 with the theme “Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds.”
DIFF, held under the honorary chairmanship of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, is a not-for-profit cultural event, presented and organized by the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone AuthorityAs the previous editions of DIFF have demonstrated, the festival not only presents cinematic excellence from around the world, but is also an important high-profile platform for aspiring home-grown talent. In 2006, DIFF introduced the Muhr Awards for Excellence in Arab Cinema to reward and inspire filmmakers of Arab origin.
“Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds” has been hailed as a unique and relevant theme to promote better understanding and mutual respect between different communities and countries.
Since its inception, DIFF has become an important meeting point for international and regional filmmakers and industry professionals, setting the foundation for potential future collaborations.
The sixth edition of DIFF will take place from December 9–16, 2009. For any further information and regular updates on DIFF 2009, please log on to www.dubaifilmfest.com.
Dubai Pearl
Dubai Pearl is a US$3 billion, world-class, mixed-use development by Pearl Dubai FZ LLC. Located opposite the Palm Jumeirah in the heart of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, a state-of-the-art business cluster operated by TECOM and home to global IT and media companies.
Dubai Pearl is a landmark destination offering spectacular views of the Dubai coast. The development will redefine the pulse of new Dubai, providing a 24-hour living city with commercial, retail, residential, and leisure facilities. Designed with people in mind to create a year-round walkable environment, the Dubai Pearl will service the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone and its communities.
Set for completion at the end of 2010, Dubai Pearl’s prime location will offer an unparalleled combination of free-hold in the convenience of a free zone with luxury, energy efficient sustainability, and state-of-the-art technology.
Cartier
Since the Cartier LOVE bracelet was introduced 30 years ago, it has become one of the most coveted jewelry designs in the world.
Over the past three years, the iconic Cartier LOVECharity bracelet has become a symbol of the French jeweler’s commitment to supporting various noble causes throughout the world, raising significant funds for sixteen different charities through the sales of this special bracelet.
For ticket information, please contact event producer Andy Boose, (212) 219-0297 or aboose@aabproductions.com
Media inquiries: Bennah Serfaty, Senior Director of Communications, amfAR, (212) 806-1607
Credential requests: Natalie Jacobs, Coordinator, Media Relations, amfAR, natalie.jacobs@amfar.org