With a party budget reportedly topping $3 million and 200 guests it is possible to make quite an impression. Japanese music, talent and, increasingly, film conglom Avex did not disappoint Tuesday at the Martinez.

Guests were given Japanese-scripted name cards, tags and escorted by models to their seats in the theatrically darkened ballroom. Chit chat was brought to an abrupt halt by a solo drummer.

Evening was regularly peppered with geisha performances, a corporate video, the extended “Red Cliff” trailer on a big screen and a live perf of the movie’s theme song by Tibetan chanteuse Alan. But what lifted the evening above simply glossy cabaret was the sense of Chinese-Japanese entente that Avex and its Chengtian subsidiary exemplify and the self-deprecating good humor of the company bosses.

“Avex is a company of fools that had made many mistakes,” said co-CEO Ryuhei Chiba. “But now we have a clear goal. We want to be bigger fools, to become great fools and make Asia the center of the filmmaking world.” Home team included CEO Masato Matsura, Takashi Araki, Buddy Marini, Ken Umehara, Sirena Liu and Est her Koo.

“Red Cliff” cast and crew included John Woo, Terence Chang, Tony Leung, Chang Chen, Zhao Wei and supermodel Lin Chiling.

— Patrick Frater

Brazilians toast home-grown talent

Guests swayed to Brazilian chill-out rhythms or the effects of caipirinhas at a happy hour hosted by Ancine-Cinema do Brasil Tuesday evening. Brazil has cause to celebrate: a strong pic presence at Cannes, new tax funds and ever-stronger co-production links abroad. So the guest mix at the Croisette’s Felix Restaurant was decidedly cosmopolitan, including Brazil’s Sabrina Nudeliman, Rachel do Valle, Lucianne Sommer and Bettina; Argentina’s Gaston Cami; Spain’s Manuel Cristobal; and Portugal’s Luis Galvao Teles.

— John Hopewell

Roman legion jams Weinsteins’ soiree

Roman Polanski was wanted but missing in action at the Weinstein Co.’s soiree for doc “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.”

In attendance, though, were Harvey Weinstein with wife Georgina Chapman, former Picturehouse topper Bob Berney, “The Alchemist” novelist Paolo Coelho and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese.

Event was a breezy, laid-back affair at the normally heaving Nikki Beach and all the more enjoyable for that.

—Ali Jaafar