ANTIBES, France — The South of France was popping on Thursday, with the Louis Vuitton show in Avignon and the Cannes Film Festival’s biggest party, amfAR, at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes.

Colman Domingo was wearing custom Valentino that flew straight out of his imagination, and he collaborated with the Valentino team to it bring to life.

“I wanted to feel like a bird of paradise,” he said of his look. It was an embellished suit with a belted wrap jacket, lace socks and ballet flats with a bow. He accessorized it with a Boucheron ear cuff of brightly colored feathers.

“You’ve got to peacock a little bit here, because you have got to get the world’s attention, but it goes toward this cause,” he said.

The cause in question is fundraising for amfAR’s research into a cure for HIV and AIDS, which has also advanced research that has supported treatments and vaccines for other viruses, such as COVID-19.

Colman said that behind each look, he thinks about what he is representing, as well as balancing fashion.

“I like to tell stories with every outfit,” he said. He collaborated with Valentino creative director Alessandro Michele on the look. “We create moments, I think. He’s creating maximalistic, romantic moments, and we need them even more now. [Fashion] is a great response to the time, saying, ‘No, don’t be downhearted. Believe in fantasy, believe in color and joy and spirit.’”

On stage, Domingo played host to a fashion show that featured pieces from houses including Alaïa, Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Prada and Saint Laurent, as well as emerging designers including Duran Lantink, Jacquemus and LaQuan Smith.

The outfits on display sold jointly for 450,000 euros.

A tent on the hotel’s grounds was decked out in red lanterns and a raised runway. The fashion show, curated by Carine Roitfeld, had a James Bond theme. Models emerged onto the runway from a white circle, similar to the iconic Bond film opening sequence.

Teri Hatcher, who played a Bond girl in 1997’s “Tomorrow Never Dies,” hit the runway in a sleek black gown. She hammed it up with her best Bond poses, and got the crowd energized to hype up the bidding.

The “Desperate Housewives” star has been involved with amfAR for several years, having attended events in the U.S., though it was her first time in Cannes.

“More than ever, especially in my country, we need to keep having great fundraisers like this to research this really devastating disease. So unfortunately, because they’re cutting the research for different [diseases including] HIV, cancer, all of it’s more important than ever,” she said.

More than her runway walk, she was excited to see headliners Duran Duran. “I’m gonna go right ahead and date myself and put myself back at my senior prom,” she said. “They were, and still are, the music of my life.”

Spike Lee has been riding the wave of strong reviews for “Highest 2 Lowest,” which premiered at the French film festival Monday night.

Lee presented star Denzel Washington an honorary Palme d’Or at the premiere. “He’s unparalleled,” he said. “I’ve been coming to Cannes since 1986 and every time is wonderful.

“The cause is needed now more than ever. So my wife, Tonya, we’re glad to be here to represent,” he said, noting that disease and health research funding in the U.S. is being cut by the current administration, which will results in additional deaths. “So I think this is more important than ever.”

Lee clarified that his chunky white-rimmed glasses were not from the A$AP Rocky collection for Ray-Ban, which was celebrated at a separate party in Cannes, but by eyewear maestro Jacques Marie Mage. “I don’t do the ‘sunglasses at night’ look,” he added.

On stage, he auctioned off a walk-on part in his next film for 400,000 euros. A buyer purchased it for his companion, who is an aspiring actress, and Lee descended from the stage to shake her hand.

Mariska Hargitay was also fresh off the premiere for her documentary “My Mom Jayne,” in which she revealed she discovered her known father Mickey Hargitay was not her biological father.

“The ride has been deeply rewarding, deeply fulfilling, and a little bumpy, obviously, but just magnificent. I feel like I’ve been preparing for it for my whole life,” she said. The actress-turned-director was wearing a custom Patou gown with an embellished halter neck.

Coco Rocha, who served as one of the event’s cohosts, wore a sculptural Asian-inspired look from brand It-Spain.

“It gives me a little Galliano, back in the day when he used to work with origami,” she said as she posed up a storm in the dramatic red gown.

Longtime amfAR supporter Adrien Brody, fresh off his second Oscar win, was not giving interviews. “I appreciate you, but I’ve decided to stay quiet,” he said upon arriving with his girlfriend Georgina Chapman.

On stage, the actor sold one of his own paintings, a collage portrait of Marilyn Monroe, and relayed that it was a statement on how women are judged in society.

“Women are so often objectified in media and social media, that they have to look beautiful and they are beautiful, but what is within them is what is most important in this world. And I want to honor that,” he said to the room, filled with top models and influencers.

The painting represents a lesson to “not let the superficiality of beauty dominate,” he added. The work sold for 375,000 euros.

Other celebrity works included a painting from James Franco, who was also in attendance, which he said represented his early days in Los Angeles, and which sold for 325,000 euros.

A photograph of Bono by Julian Lennon, signed by the U2 frontman, sold for 150,000 euros, while the priciest piece of the night was a painting from artist George Condo, which went for 1.15 million euros.

Michelle Rodriguez was on hand to auction the Dodge Charger driven by Vin Diesel in the tenth installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise. She called it “American-made muscle,” and it went for 475,000 euros.

She was accompanied by longtime friend and Red Sea Film Foundation chief executive officer Mohammed Al Turki. The actress has stepped into producing and is using AI to help her with her scripts and work, she said, highlighting its importance in disease research as well.

On the fashion front, Karolina Kurkova took to the stage to auction a pair of Chopard earrings with a total of 36.28 carats of yellow and white diamonds, which were sold for 400,000 euros.

“Every girl needs diamonds. Please, gentlemen, buy them for your wives or daughters. I know there are some daughters here,” she said to the age-diverse couples in the crowd. Auctioneer Simon de Pury praised Chopard copresident and artistic director Caroline Scheufele for her longtime support of amfAR.

Taraji P. Henson commanded the stage as the host of the evening in a sweeping Gaurav Gupta gown. The host had to shush the boisterous crowd more than once to focus their attention on the items for sale.

Ciara, who had changed up her look from the short bob she sported earlier on the red carept to long blonde locks, opened the musical performances, with Adam Lambert following with a trio of Queen songs. Duran Duran closed the night with some of their greatest hits, and the guitar John Taylor played on stage was signed by the members and auctioned off as a surprise last lot of the night.

The instrument went for 25,000 euros to one baseball-capped amfAR regular – aka Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio – who demurred when asked to take to the stage.

Other guests included Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Robin Thicke and Kevin Spacey, who walked the red carpet but stayed tableside and did not present on stage.