The Oscar Wilde awards are a kind of a mini-Irish Oscars, so it was appropriate that a soft rain soaked the boulevards of Hollywood on Thursday evening. Instead of a red carpet there was a green one and to make the Irish feel even more at home the buffet included several large platters of crisps.
Celebrated Belfast film-maker Terry George, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of The DepartedWilliam Monahan, and Van Morrison were the recipients of the awards, which were established last year by the US-Ireland Alliance to honour Irish writing in film.
Crisps as canapes is one thing but when Al Pacino starts blowing kisses at Van Morrison you start to suspect the event is no ordinary awards hooley.
Before the first glass of a certain well-known Irish liqueur had been downed it was obvious that the star-sprinkled awards ceremony was going to double as a giant Van Morrison love-in.
Terry George, director of Hotel Rwandaand co-writer of In the Name of the Father, received his award from Irish actress Fionnuala Flanagan, who praised his integrity in continuing to examine conflict through film.
But George couldn't resist diverting praise to Van The Man. He was "a god", he said on the way into the Ebell Wilshire Theatre. "I worship him."
Morrison mania was catching. The firm favourite to take an Oscar tomorrow, William Monahan, hid behind a floppy fringe while accepting his honour. Morrison was "immortal", he said.
But it was actor Al Pacino, charged with handing the crystal gong to the Belfast singer, who surpassed himself. "I love Van Morrison. I love him . . . Have I told you lately that I love you?" he inquired, blowing a kiss to the man in the hat and shades sitting in the front row.
The likes of Stuart Townsend, Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, Colm Meaney, Rachel Griffiths, Cecelia Ahern, Eddie Irvine, Andie McDowell and Roma Downey, who was MC for the event, walked down the green carpet.
Later they were treated to a concert by Morrison, his daughter Shana, rhythm and blues legend Solomon Burke, Chieftains front man Paddy Moloney and Maura O'Connell.
Morrison's award, marking the fact that his music has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Departed, was sponsored by Culture Ireland, the State agency set up to promote Irish culture around the world.
Chairman of the agency and professor of music at the University of Limerick Dr Micheál Ó Súilleabháin said Morrison was a "uniquely Irish voice" who "sings of the joys and sorrows of our times".
In his acceptance speech Morrison kept it brief, manfully resisting a Sally Fields style "you love me, you really love me" style response. "It's a long way from when I started in the back streets of east Belfast to this in Hollywood," he said. "When I first came to this country it was like 'Van who?' I'm speechless so I'll just say thanks."