Oscar season freebies

This post is long overdue, what with the Oscars less than a week away. Even if you can't attend the award ceremony itself, you can still take advantage of the many Oscar-season events that are open to the public.

Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives awards for achievement in filmmaking, commonly known as... the Oscars! OK, so you knew that already. But did you know that the Academy also puts on a whole slew of free public programs related to the Oscars?

"Oscar Week" kicks off with “Shorts!” on Tuesday, February 17, featuring screenings of all the 2008 Academy Award-nominated films in the Animated and Live Action Short Film categories. The program includes an onstage discussion with the nominated filmmakers.

Other programs this week include the Animated Feature Symposium, the Foreign Language Film Nominees Symposium, and the Makeup and Hairstylist Symposium. Admission is free but all events are already sold out.

According to the Academy website, a standby line will form at the theater’s west doors on the day of the event. Standby numbers will be assigned at approximately 5:30 p.m. Any available tickets will be distributed shortly before the program begins. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood also offers two Oscar-week programs this Saturday, February 21. At 10:00 am, "Invisible Art, Visible Artists" Editors’ Seminar is an open discussion with all of this year's Oscar-nominated film editors.

The Oscar-Nominated Art Directors Seminar, a panel discussion with this year’s Academy Award-nominated art directors and set decorators, follows at 2:30 pm. Art Directors Guild President Thomas A. Walsh will moderate the event, which will include screenings of excerpts from the five films nominated by the Academy.

Both programs are free, and tickets will be available at the theater box office on the day of the event. No online ticketing. The Egyptian Theater is located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd.

Finally, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising hosts an exhibition of all the Oscar-nominated costume designs each year. This year, The 17th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design is open through Sunday, March 29.

Hours are Wednesday-Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Free and open to the public. FIDM is located at 919 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.