'No Country For Old Men' producer Scott Rudin is flanked by directors Ethan and Joel Coen at the Governors Ball on Sunday.
Miramax's Daniel Battsek and 'Ratatouille's' Brad Bird toast Oscar at the studio's soiree.
Host Jon Stewart chats with Casey Affleck.
Viggo Mortensen flags down a pregnant Cate Blanchett at the Governors Ball.
Ruby Dee celebrates the Oscars.
Chevy Chase and Anne Meara at the Academy's party at the Carlyle in New York.
'Once' songwriters Glen Hansard and Marketa Inglova with Fox's Tom Rothman, Jessica Harper and George Clooney.
'La Vie en Rose' Oscar winner Marion Cotillard with Picturehouse president Bob Berney.
'Juno' scribe Diablo Cody shows off her award at the Governors Ball.
Seal and Heidi Klum lock lips during the Elton John party.
Julie Christie lives it up after the Oscars,
Helen Mirren and Javier Bardem at the Hollywood & Highland Center fete.
'Atonement' director Joe Wright .
Ricki Lake at the 'Envelope Please' viewing party benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles at the Abbey on Sunday.
'There Will Be Blood' director Paul Thomas Anderson with Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis and wife Rebecca Miller.
Stars, studio heads and statues filled the Governors Ball on Sunday night as Oscar winners held tight to their trophies while guests chatted about the ceremony over Wolfgang Puck's lobster and caviar.
"The 'Once' songwriters provided the best moment of the evening and spontaneity," declared Fox's
Tom Rothman. "It's what the Oscars are supposed to be about."
Sony's
Howard Stringer admired the acceptance speeches, which were "devoid of cliches," he said, and "full of entertaining energy."
Sony Pictures Classics'
Tom Bernard agreed: "The speeches were about the movies," he said, "not kissing the ass of studios and agents. The Academy is trying to focus more attention on the movies and not the people outside the movies."
The Warners table -- complete with execs
Jeff Bewkes,
Barry Meyer and
Alan Horn -- boasted "Michael Clayton" winner
Tilda Swinton.
"Tilda kept us from getting skunked," said
George Clooney, as he headed out into the night with girlfriend
Sarah Larson.
Over at the 16th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar party, which raised $5.1 million, revelers including
Amy Adams,
Patricia Clarkson,
Kate Beckinsale,
Billy Joel,
Faye Dunaway,
Stevie Wonder,
Russell Simmons,
Quincy Jones and
Tom Wilkinson poured into the Pacific Design Center to catch a duet between
Elton John and special guest
Mary J. Blige.
While waiting in line for one of the swanky swag bags,
Jeremy Piven offered his thoughts on
Jon Stewart's hosting duties: "Jon's an incredibly sharp guy, and I thought he did a great job. I don't think people realize how hard that gig is."
Tim Allen also praised Stewart. "I think he did a terrific job. I didn't have high hopes, because I thought he'd be too smart-assy, but instead the guy had elegance and class and the style of old Hollywood," he said.
Despite being 3,000 miles away, New Yorkers celebrated the big night throughout Gotham. The Academy hosted an upscale viewing party at the Carlyle Hotel, which drew vets including
Jerry Stiller,
Shirley Knight and
Chevy Chase. Over at the W New York hotel,
Variety hosted a lively viewing party, while New York magazine threw its third annual Oscar bash at the Spotted Pig restaurant, where guests such as
Eddie Izzard,
Alan Cumming and
Phylicia Rashad were treated to Oscar nominee-inspired drinks, including the "Juno & Juice" gin cocktail.
(Jeff Sneider in Hollywood and Addie Morfoot in New York contributed to this report.)
Contact the Variety newsroom at
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