Jaunted

If you aren't that lucky, the Academy also holds public events throughout the week leading up to the Oscars ceremony. On Saturday, February 21st, they are hosting the Foreign Language Film Award Nominees Symposium which “brings together some of the world’s top filmmakers to address such wide-ranging topics as art, politics and the challenges of their profession.”

They will also be holding a Makeup Artist and Hairstylist Symposium to celebrate the achievements of the 2008 Oscar nominees in the Makeup category. The nominees will be on hand to discuss their creative process and review clips of their work.

Tickets for both events are sold out but a stand-by line will form at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard. Stand-by numbers will be distributed at that time and any available tickets will be given out before the event.

Also on Saturday, the Writers Guild of America is hosting Docuday in Los Angeles. On Docuday, the WGA screens all of the Academy Award nominated documentary feature and short films in their theater. A full day pass is $55.00 and can be purchased through the Guild’s website.

On Oscar night, the Police Athletic League holds an annual party at the Hollywood Museum, just steps from the Kodak Theater. This is about as close as you can get to the actual ceremony without a ticket. The event includes a champagne bar for the first 2 hours, hors d'oeuvres and a dinner buffet for $100.

If you’re willing to spend a little more (actually, a lot more) on Oscar night you can attend the Night of 100 Stars Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel. For $1,000 you get dinner and an open bar. Why pay so much for a glorified banquet? Because it is usually a star-studded event, many celebs who weren’t invited to the big show will show up at the Beverly Hills Hotel instead.

Finally, if you've missed out on any of these events or simply can't afford them, the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising is displaying several Oscar-nominated costumes in the Best Costume Design category. The exhibit can be toured Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free. The address is 919 S. Grand Ave in Downtown Los Angeles.

Related Stories:
· Oscar Events [About.com]
· Oscar Bleacher Seats to Be Available to Public[People]

[Photo: L.A. Times]