On the eve of the legendary amfAR Gala Cannes, the grand ballroom of the Hôtel Martinez transformed into one of the most glamorous and invitation-only celebrations of the Cannes Film Festival season — the ultra-chic Pre-amfAR Event hosted by Chopard in partnership with DENZA and amfAR.
The atmosphere felt unmistakably Cannes and VIP experience: cinematic, decadent, fashion-driven, and internationally magnetic.
Under golden lighting and immersive digital installations, the iconic ballroom became a world of Riviera glamour where champagne flowed endlessly, cameras flashed from every direction, and global guests moved through the evening in couture, diamonds, and black-tie elegance.
At the entrance stood the sculptural blue DENZA Z9 GT — instantly becoming the visual centerpiece of the night. Guests gathered around the vehicle throughout the evening, posing for photographs and social moments as paparazzi captured the arrivals and interactions unfolding around the car.
The DENZA Z9 GT embodied the fusion of technology and couture luxury — sleek, futuristic, and dramatically staged beneath the lights of Hôtel Martinez.
One particularly playful moment unfolded when Stella Li and Kyle Clifford paused together beside the vehicle, smiling for photographers while enjoying the glamour and energy of the evening. The scene perfectly captured the spirit of modern Cannes: powerful global figures momentarily stepping into the spotlight with the ease of old Hollywood and Bollywood glamour.
At the heart of the celebration stood three symbolic personalities representing the worlds of luxury craftsmanship, innovation, and philanthropy: Caroline Scheufele, Stella Li, and Kyle Clifford, welcoming international guests ahead of the following evening’s amfAR Gala Cannes.
One of the evening’s most charming moments came during the opening remarks, when Caroline Scheufele’s beloved dog Byron quietly joined the ceremony beside her — adding warmth, intimacy, and personality to an atmosphere otherwise defined by high glamour and exclusivity.
Yet beyond the fashion, champagne, and celebrity energy, the evening also introduced a deeper vision of sustainable luxury.
Throughout the Cannes Film Festival, Chopard partnered with DENZA France and DENZA Europe to accompany distinguished guests across the Riviera in ultra-luxury electric vehicles — transporting them between premieres, private dinners, yacht receptions, and red carpet events.
At the Pre-amfAR Event, that collaboration materialized through the unveiling of the extraordinary Chopard x DENZA Z9 GT — a globally unique creation imagined specifically for the amfAR Gala auction in support of AIDS research.
The vehicle itself reflected an entirely new expression of contemporary luxury.
Its exterior featured elegant gold detailing, while the interior drew inspiration directly from Chopard’s jewelry craftsmanship. Amethyst-inspired decorative elements, gemstone-style controls, customized embroidery featuring Chopard’s signature “C” emblem, branded charging surfaces, and an exclusive infotainment interface transformed the car into a moving couture object.
Guests were invited to step inside the DENZA Z9 GT throughout the evening, exploring its details firsthand while discussing the future of sustainable mobility and high luxury design.
Another detail that generated excitement among collectors and VIP guests was the announcement that every DENZA Z9 GT would receive a limited-edition Chopard watch — reinforcing the dialogue between haute horlogerie and next-generation automotive innovation.
As Italian band live music carried the atmosphere deeper into the night, guests moved between champagne lounges, conversation circles, and the DENZA presentation space while the ballroom evolved into one of Cannes’ defining late-night social scenes.
Fashion executives, filmmakers, collectors, luxury insiders, and international tastemakers gathered beneath the chandeliers as music, photography, and Riviera glamour merged into a distinctly Cannes moment.
And yet the story did not end there.
The following evening, during the 32nd amfAR Gala Cannes charity auction, the one-of-a-kind DENZA Z9 GT created jointly by BYD and Chopard sold for an extraordinary 700,000 euros — approximately 815,000 USD — with proceeds supporting global AIDS research programs through amfAR.
The result confirmed not only the exclusivity of the creation itself, but also the growing cultural intersection between luxury fashion, philanthropy, sustainable innovation, and global entertainment.
At Hôtel Martinez, Chopard, DENZA, and amfAR delivered far more than a cocktail party.
They created a vision of modern Cannes luxury — where craftsmanship, purpose, glamour, and innovation move together toward the future.
