Sneak peek at 'Diaries'

Weinsten film premieres in New York

By ADDIE MORFOOT

Pic's Alicia Keys and Harvey Weinsteinat Monday's Gotham screening of 'The Nanny Diaries.'

Pic's star Laura Linney.

Before "The Nanny Diaries" gala screening at the Venice Film Festival later this month, the Weinstein Co. decided to host a very intimate soiree on Monday for its long-awaited pic at Cinema 3 on the Upper East Side.

After the screening, guests mingled at a crowded after-party at Swifty's restaurant where TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein explained the reason for changing pic's release date from Sept. 7 to Aug. 24. "We are better off where we are, where the movies (going out) are smaller and when there are no romantic comedies out," he said. "There is nothing for females right now."

Co-director/writer Shari Springer Berman said making the comedy based on the bestselling book was intimidating, especially shooting the ending scenes, which differ from the novel.

"My co-director/writer (Robert Pulcini) and I felt as a cinematic experience, you had to give the audience a little more than the book gave (at the end). It worked really well in the book but we felt like in a movie people would have felt really cheated."