Golden Soirée at Cannes 2026 celebrates Indian cinema and philanthropy

Against the glittering backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival, an evening dedicated to cinema, culture and meaningful impact unfolded high above the French Riviera as entrepreneur Rishabh Tongya and Caroline Scheufele co-hosted the Golden Soirée — a philanthropic celebration inspired by the emotional resonance and global influence of Indian cinema.

Held on May 19, 2026, at the Chopard Rooftop inside Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, the evening reflected a shared vision between long-time friends Tongya and Scheufele, bringing together an exclusive international gathering from the worlds of cinema, luxury, art, business and philanthropy.

Conceived as a “party with a purpose,” the Golden Soirée paid tribute to Indian cinema’s enduring cultural influence while spotlighting philanthropy as a powerful bridge across borders and generations. The evening drew an international guest list featuring artists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and media personalities from India, Europe and the Gulf region.

The immersive experience blended glamour with generosity through artistic performances, curated cinematic moments and a charity auction designed to create meaningful social impact. Hosted by Archana Vijaya Puri, the soirée featured live musical performances, including a special appearance by Indian music icon Badshah.

A highlight of the evening was the charity auction, which showcased extraordinary luxury experiences and exclusive creations jointly contributed by Scheufele and Tongya. Guests bid on world-premiere Happy Diamonds and Happy Sport India Edition creations from Chopard, an exceptional Caroline Couture design, a High Jewellery diamond parure and a private experience at 1, Place Vendôme.

The philanthropic initiative supported five international foundations — All Hands and Hearts, BMVSS Jaipur Foot, The OpenAg Foundation, The Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. 

With 100 per cent of the auction proceeds donated directly to the supported organisations, the Golden Soirée ultimately raised €410,000 for charitable initiatives.

Guests also heard remarks from Petra Nemcova, Natalia Kapchuk, Abbas Sajwani and Prince Charles Henri de Lipkowitz, who highlighted the humanitarian work and community initiatives being supported through the evening.

The auction also saw generous participation from distinguished international bidders, including entrepreneur Abbas H. Sajwani, businessman and investor Vikram Shroff, entrepreneur Sajal Garg, media personality and philanthropist Loujain Adada Juffali and entrepreneur Samay Manyal.

At its core, Tongya envisioned the Golden Soirée as more than a gala evening — an evolving international cultural and philanthropic platform rooted in emotion, generosity and connection. By pairing Indian cinema’s storytelling legacy with global philanthropy, the evening demonstrated how art and compassion can come together to create impact far beyond the red carpet.

Set amid couture presentations, High Jewellery showcases and an Indian-inspired gastronomic experience, the Golden Soirée emerged as one of Cannes’ most meaningful celebrations — proving that alongside cinematic brilliance, philanthropy too has the power to take centre stage.