"Come what may, their work deserves to be celebrated," Miramax prexy Daniel Battsek said in explaining the reason for the nominees bash. Those being feted included Kathleen Kennedy, Joel and Ethan Coen, Bob Iger, Dick Cook and Scott Rudin, who said the Oscar week attention subjects him "to a level of scrutiny I'm not comfortable with."
Mingling about the party was Elton John, who said his Oscar fund-raiser would be having an after-party after all; right behind him, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" director Julian Schnabel was introducing the pic's Emmanuelle Seigner to Frances McDormand, who said, "How are you enjoying this weird thing?"