February 2, 2010 — The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to Charlottesville on Oscar Night.

Movie fans are invited to wear their best Hollywood-inspired attire and experience the 82nd Academy Awards on March 7 at Charlottesville's own "Oscar Night America" party. Benefiting the Paramount Theater and the University of Virginia's Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville's Oscar Night celebration will be held at the Paramount. Doors will open at 6 p.m.; wine, beer and food will be served until 8 p.m., when the live high-definition broadcast begins.

General admission tickets are $25, and include admission to the broadcast with emcees Dan Schutte and Tiffani Sargent, Newsplex news anchors; food, beer and wine; the official program; coffee, popcorn and soda.

Tickets are now on sale to Paramount Theater supporters. Public sales begin Feb. 5.

To purchase tickets, visit www.theparamount.net, call 434-979-1333, or visit the Paramount's box office at 215 E. Main St. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Charlottesville event is one of 51 parties sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that will be held across the country on Oscar Night.

"We are honored and thrilled to have the Virginia Film Festival and the Paramount Theater chosen as one of only 51 venues nationwide officially sanctioned to broadcast Hollywood's biggest night," Virginia Film Festival director Jody Kielbasa said. "Oscar Night generates excitement all over the world, and with the Academy's help, our guests will feel like they are on the A-list."

The audience will watch the telecast on large screens courtesy of WVAW, Charlottesville's ABC affiliate. This is the 17th year that the Academy and ABC have cooperated with local charities to support official Oscar Night viewing parties throughout the country. This year is the first that the Academy has sanctioned Charlottesville's party.

"I can't think of a grander night to be watching TV at the Paramount, live in HD, on the largest screen in Central Virginia," Paramount general manager Mary Beth Aungier said.

"Oscar Night America parties give communities across the country the opportunity to both share in the excitement of Oscar Night and support worthy causes," Academy executive director Bruce Davis said. "The Academy is very proud that our worldwide television event can benefit so many charities on a local level."

Official Oscar Night parties last year raised more than $3 million in 52 cities. All money raised stays in the local community.

The Academy will provide party guests in Charlottesville the same official program distributed to guests at the Oscar presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.

Charlottesville guests will walk the red carpet into the theater and sample tastes from some of Charlottesville's top restaurants, including The Melting Pot, Bonefish Grill, Maya, Escafe and Topeka Steak House. There will also be a raffle that evening with items from merchants such as Belk, Gearhart's Fine Chocolates, and The Inn At Court Square.