Honoring a Career in Midstream

A host of friends and co-stars headed for the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday night to honor Jodie Foster at the American Cinematheque’s 14th annual Moving Picture Ball. “This isn’t about lifetime achievement,” explained executive director Barbara Smith. “It’s a midcareer encouragement award.”

“Frasier’s” David Hyde Pierce, who appeared in Foster’s directorial debut, “Little Man Tate,” was the host of the fund-raiser, which raised nearly $500,000 for the nonprofit film exhibition group and which will be televised at 8 p.m. Sunday on TNT. “One announcement, before we get started,” he advised the black-tie crowd. “Mr. Hopkins, your special meal is ready.”

It was Hopkins, Anthony Hopkins, who lured Foster up to the podium. (“Come up here, I have something for you,” he intoned in his most Hannibalesque voice.) “Silence of the Lambs” director Jonathan Demme also paid his respects. “This is the first time that the three of us--Tony, Jodie and I--have been in the same room since we shot the cage scene in 1991,” he observed.

Who Was There: Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Stockard Channing, James Garner, Lisa Kudrow, James Woods, Rob Lowe, Peter MacNicol, Camryn Manheim, Mike Medavoy, Jennifer Grey, Ben Affleck, Gillian Anderson, Salma Hayek, Ridley Scott. Guests, dining on pumpkin bisque and chicken Napa, departed with knapsacks filled with toiletries, candy, a Foster film video and black boxer shorts.

The Buzz: Foster and 1987 recipient Bette Midler are the only women to receive the award, which has gone to the likes of Eddie Murphy, Mel Gibson, Sean Connery and Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Jodie opened a lot of doors,” Hayek said of the actress-producer-director. “She’s living proof we can do it.” Paying homage to the distaff contingent was long overdue, everyone agreed.

The Scene: Showing Foster, at 3, as the Coppertone kid, film clips tracked her through “My Three Sons,” “The Partridge Family” and movie roles ranging from “Taxi Driver” to “The Accused,” which brought her an Academy Award. “Jodie’s won two Oscars, but then, she’s done 4,000 movies,” “Contact” co-star James Woods said. “If she was in the major leagues, her ass would be on the bench.” The house roared.

The Final Word: Radiant in a silver beaded gown (Armani, what else?), Foster delivered a mea culpa before thanking her team for making her “the luckiest white girl in Hollywood.” “I’m sorry I’m not more ambitious,” she said, flashing a rueful smile. “I’m sorry I’m not interested in making a million movies a year. And sometimes I hate this business as much as I love it. There’s nothing like a tribute to make you feel really guilty and insufficient.”