Madonna to Join Sharon Stone at Annual amfar fundraising

MADONNA TO JOIN SHARON STONE AND HARVEY WEINSTEIN AT ANNUAL amfAR FUNDRAISING GALA IN CANNES

Special performance by Seal

Event to be presented by Bold Films, Chopard, and the Weinstein Company

Audi, Hewlett-Packard Company, Moët Hennessy to co-sponsor event

Madonna, Sharon Stone, Harvey Weinstein, Michelle Yeoh, Michel Litvak, Carine Roitfeld, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, and amfAR Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole will serve as chairs of amfARs Cinema Against AIDS, to be held on May 22 during the 61st annual Cannes International Film Festival. The evening will be presented by Bold Films, Chopard, and the Weinstein Company.

The annual star-studded event, which will benefit amfAR, will take place at Le Moulin de Mougins and will include a formal dinner, along with amfARs world-renowned live auction. This year, three-time Grammy-winning artist Seal will travel to Cannes on behalf of amfAR to give a special performance. In addition, this years event will feature a short clip of I Am Because We Are, the Madonna-produced and -narrated documentary about children orphaned by AIDS in Malawi.

The full screening of I Am Because We Are is scheduled to take place the evening before, May 21, in Cannes and will be associated with amfARs Cinema Against AIDS event. Madonna's long history with amfAR began in 1992 when she received the Foundations Award of Courage.

Harvey Weinstein and Sharon Stone, tireless advocates for AIDS research and amfAR, will conduct the highly anticipated live auction with the assistance of several of the event chairs and other celebrities who will be present. In past years, the auction has seen legendary impromptu performances by Sir Elton John, Robin Williams, Natalie Cole, Liza Minnelli, Sheryl Crow, Ringo Starr, Macy Gray, Milla Jovovich, and Lionel Ritchie. Last years live auction raised $4 million, bringing the evenings fundraising total to $7 million.

amfAR's annual Cinema Against AIDS galas have been important and successful fund-raising events for the Foundation since 1993, generating more than $33 million for essential AIDS research. Past events have been hosted by Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, and Sir Elton John.

Like the epidemic itself, AIDS research knows no borders. amfARs programs have had a global reach since 1986, when the Foundation began awarding international grants. Today, amfAR continues to fund HIV/AIDS researchers worldwide and works to translate that research into effective treatment, prevention, and education programs around the globe.

Tables for this years Cinema Against AIDS will range in price from $40,000 to $150,000. For event reservations and details, please call (212) 219-0297 or visit www.amfar.org.

amfAR recognizes American Airlines for its commitment to the fight against AIDS and its generous support of amfARs mission.