IHES
Looking back at the Friends of IHES 2025 Cinema & Mathematics Gala
The Friends of IHES 2025 Gala took place on October 28 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Themed “Cinema & Mathematics,” the evening was hosted by Tracy Day and Brian Greene of the World Science Festival, and offered a unique experience at the intersection of science and art.
On the physics side, Nobel laureate Kip Thorne shared insights from his role as Executive Producer and Scientific Advisor for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. On the mathematics side, Director Matthew Brown, notably known for the biopic The Man Who Knew Infinity about the life of Indian mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, engaged in a conversation with Fields Medal laureate and IHES Permanent Professor of Mathematics Hugo Duminil-Copin. Together, they explored the deep and often unexpected connections between cinema and mathematics, two universal languages of human creativity.
The Gala was also an opportunity to celebrate the appointment of Hong Wang as a Permanent Professor of Mathematics at IHES, in a joint position with the NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences—a remarkable example of Franco-American scientific collaboration and an inspiration for women in STEM.
The evening brought together an exceptional group of distinguished guests, including H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco; Cédrik Fouriscot, Consul General of France in New York; H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, Ambassador of Monaco to the United States; Marilyn Simons, Co-Founder of the Simons Foundation and Chair of Friends of IHES; José Placido, CEO of BNP Paribas USA and CEO of CIB Americas, Pierre Deligne, Fields Medalist, Abel Prize laureate, and former Permanent Professor of Mathematics at IHES; Dennis Sullivan, Abel Prize laureate and former Permanent Professor of Mathematics at IHES; Gérard Ben Arous, Director of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences; Stéphane Mallat, 2025 CNRS Gold Medalist; Thibault Damour, Permanent Professor of Physics Emeritus at IHES; as well as the full Board of Directors of Friends of IHES.
Friends of IHES warmly thanks the members of the Gala Honorary Committee, as well as Guillaume Bioche, Carine Menache, Monique Miller, and Benjamin Servenay of the Gala Committee, for their dedication and invaluable contribution to the success of this exceptional evening.
Acknowledgements to Partners and Sponsors
Friends of IHES expresses its sincere gratitude to all partners and sponsors, whose support made the evening possible and helped raise over $1.3 million to advance fundamental research in mathematics and theoretical physics at the highest level. The incredible success of the Gala would not have been possible without their commitment.
Special thanks go to the Honorees, Matthew Brown, Hugo Duminil-Copin and Kip Thorne, the Masters of Ceremonies Brian Greene and Tracy Day, as well as to Gala Underwriter Simons Foundation International, and to Premier Sponsor BNP Paribas, for their long-standing commitment to Friends of IHES and IHES.
Friends of IHES and IHES also wish to thank:
Gala Chair and Gold Sponsor, David Faucon;
Silver Sponsors, Thomas Campbell Jackson and the Brandt Jackson Foundation, Amal Moussa, Kavita Shah & Benjamin Servenay, Bloomberg, and XTX Markets;
Copper Sponsors, Ashvin B. Chhabra & Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra, Nina & Michael R. Douglas, Ross Garon, Denis de Graeve, Monique & Scott Miller, Gerry Ohrstrom, Farida & Henri Seydoux, and Société Générale;
Gala Friends, Michael & Victoria Bershadsky, Bharat & Swati Bhise, Kim Brizzolara, Mark Charbonneau Johnson, Ann Clarkeson & Arthur Jaffe, Marina Cucchiari, Nicolas Dreyfuss, Christine Etheredge & John Terilla, Ladan Gharai, Annette Gray, Carolyn & Keith Hilles-Pilant, Firdaus Janoos, Zahra Joudi, Delaram Kahrobaei, Arthur Kramer, Alexandra Lauvaux, Annika Lejeunek, Stefan Madjarov, Carine Menache, Kamyar Moud, Bettye Muller, Eugénie Rives & Cédric Hutchings, Juliana Ruecker & Nicolas Poitevin, Vasily Pestun, Elena & Vladimir Sadov, Mariana & Jasjeet Sood, Anne Taibleson, Daniel & Holly Totoum Tangho, Michele Vettorazzo, Victoria Vysotina and Genevieve Williams;
All guests who contributed to the Charitable Auction and the Fund-A-Need for their outstanding generosity.
Finally, special recognition goes to the In-Kind Sponsors, whose material and logistical contributions were crucial to the Gala’s success: auctioneer Caroline Robinson of Bonhams, Alex Kontorovich & Eric Vergo, Belmond, and the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center.
Their commitment enabled an unforgettable evening where cinema and mathematics came together brilliantly, supporting the transformative work of IHES for lasting impact.
