George Clooney and Amal Clooney gathered their A-list friends at the New York Public Library last night to celebrate the second annual Albie Awards.
Actors Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson and Meryl Streep were among the guests who came to show their support. Supermodel Kate Moss had taken a break from fast-paced fashion month and flew across the pond in order to attend.
The awards, run by The Clooney Foundation for Justice, exist “to shine a protective spotlight on courageous justice defenders who are at risk,” according to an official online statement.
Also attending were husband and wife Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, Matt Damon, as well as Cindy Crawfiord and Rande Gerber, Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich. While Charlotte Tilbury and Versace had partnered with the event.
Both Amal and George greeted their guests as they arrived at the grand entrance of the New York venue. George checked in with the crowds of fans and photographers who had been standing in the rain: “Everybody OK? Are you dry?” The crowds were fast to respond with laughter and whooping.
The Albies are named after anti-apartheid hero Justice Albie Sachs, who received a lifetime achievement award at the inaugural event. This year, Dr Denis Mukwege from the Republic of Congo received this prestigious award for his life-changing work as gynecologist, treating survivors of wartime sexual violence.
Actor Viola Davis presented Dr Mukwege with the award. “I thank you for radicalising love, for making these women feel whole, and thank you for not leaving them behind,” the actor said to the awardee.
Guests enjoyed a sit down dinner, a speech was made by The Clooneys and guests were treated to a performance from acclaimed singer Alicia Keys. The singer played the piano and spoke to the audience saying she felt “a very beautfiul energy in the room, even as we know there is so much in the world that is dark.” She added: “I do believe that when we have each other, there is hope, there is faith.”
Meryl Streep also addressed the room. “Throughout history, there have been tyrants. And regardless of how long it takes, they always fall,” she said.
Other awardees included journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, for their brave work covering the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in Iran; Truth Hounds, an organisation exposing Russian war crimes in Ukraine; Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, and the Syrian Center For Media And Freedom Of Expression.
