The Scene: Premiere of “sex, lies, and...

The Scene: Premiere of “sex, lies, and videotape,” the much talked-about film that won the Palm d’Or at this year’s Cannes film festival. Twenty/20 in Century City was the site of the party following a screening at the Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza. The film’s very young director, Steven Soderbergh, three out of four major cast members, a slew of celebs and various mortals celebrated into the wee hours, shouting above extremely loud dance tracks and looking in vain for substantial food. The evening honored the Sundance Institute, Robert Redford’s Utah breeding farm for independent film makers. Not exactly a fund-raiser: Donation cards were passed out to audience members, but most were left on the floor of the theater along with empty popcorn bags. (Miramax Films, which is releasing the movie, has made a contribution to Sundance.)

The Buzz: Guests tried to one-up each other as to how many times they’d seen “sex, lies, and videotape.” Winners, of course, saw it at Cannes first before attending several L.A. screenings.

Who was there: Cast members Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher and Laura San Giacomo (James Spader was filming another movie and couldn’t make it); executive producers Nick Wechsler and Morgan Mason; Mason’s wife, singer Belinda Carlisle; director John Waters, Jon Lovitz, Teri Garr, Howard Hesseman, Dweezil Zappa, Daphne Zuniga, singer Julie Brown, Jami Gertz, Kelly Lynch, Alfre Woodard and several guys named “Duuuuuude.”

Dress mode: Casual--actually, maybe a little too casual. Several people were spotted wearing baggy acid-washed jeans--was there a recent sale at Miller’s Outpost? Classy ladies like MacDowell, Carlisle and San Giacomo opted for the always chic little black dress, while Soderbergh wore the outfit favored by Spader’s character in the film: black shirt and jeans.

The food: Plates of hors d’oeuvres seemed to appear on tables without anyone really knowing how they got there. Upon closer inspection, the plates contained chicken wings, smoked salmon on toast points and other finger foods. They were snapped up quickly, leaving slower-witted patrons very hungry.

Quoted: Soderbergh was mobbed all night by friends and well-wishers, but said this party was a picnic compared to the flap the film caused at Cannes. “That was just completely insane,” he recalled. “This is the one part of the film-making process that I haven’t experienced.”

The party’s over, it’s time to call it a day: At 10:55 p.m. one man turned to his friend and said, “Let’s go. It’s almost 11 and that’s when they start letting anyone in.”