Star line-up for the ACCTA Awards.

Nicole Kidman will be jetting into Sydney for this year's ACCTA Awards next Wednesday evening. She'll be joined by Vance Joy and Katie Noonan who will perform alongside a star-studded line-up of presenters and guests, including nominees  Simon Baker, Deborah Mailman and Bruce Beresford.

Whispers will be there of course at the The Star Event Centre with bells on to bring our readers all the action.

And what a line-up of talent:

Host Stephen Curry will be joined by top Australian film and television talent who will take to the stage to present, including: Rebecca Gibney, Marta Dusseldorp, Jack Thompson, Sigrid Thornton, Rodger Corser, Erik Thomson, Julia Zemiro, Shane Jacobson, Fred Schepisi, Nazeem Hussain and Kat Stewart, as well as KATH AND KIM’s Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Magda Szubanski.

Playwright David Williamson Honoured at US film Festival

With less than three weeks to go to the Academy Awards, tributes continue to flow in for Australian film identities.

Jackie & Hailee at Santa Barbara AP

On Sunday at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival David Williamson (right) was part of the team that received the prestige Panavison Spirit Award for Independent Cinema for the film he wrote, Face to Face directed by Michael Rymer-the first time in the festival's history a non-mainstream Hollywood film has received the award .  

Face to Face stars Vince Colisimo, Matthew Newton , Sigrid Thornton and Luke Ford.

And at the same festival Jackie Weaver received a Virtuoso Tribute Award for her performance in Animal Kingdom.

Phil Noyce & Jackie Weaver AP

Also honoured with a Virtuoso Award was newcomer Hailee Steinfeld for her role in True Grit. Both Jackie and Hailee will be competing for the Best Supporting Actress award at the Oscars.

On Monday Jackie was the guest of honour at a lunch at a Santa Monica restaurant with a host of Hollywood types-director Phil Noyce and actors John Lithgow and Billy Baldwin with director Quentin Tarantino paying a flying visit.

getting into bed with the Smiths

Mr & Mrs Smith, the British boutique hotel guide experts have finally launched their Australasian guide to the best inns around the country. Not only is this a guide to some of the most interesting and luxurious hotels in some of the most exotic locations , the guide also guarantees the best rates if you book via the Mr & Mrs Smith website

You won't find a Sheraton or Hilton in this book but you will find some fab places where Paris Hilton likes to relax. Victorias at Wategos in northern NSW is one such place where Paris bedded down. It's also hosted David Bowie, James Packer, Mick Jagger, Nicole Kidman and HRH Prince Harry who true to form, caused havoc in the numerous local night spots at the popular Byron Bay resort just around the corner from Wategos beach. (Victorias also has a Lear jet and helicopter on hand)                   
                                                                  Sigrid Thornton

                                                             Victorias at Wategos

Mr & Mrs Smith use a variety of guest writers from all fields to compile their reviews and reports. In this edition actress Sigrid Thornton, Vogue editor Kirstie Clements and party organizer David Grant contribute.
      Grant is the genius event organizer behind the legendary Cointreau Balls (they're now a university study subject) in Sydney and more recently has been overseeing major functions and parties at the last 4 Olympics. He hangs his hat up after the 2012 London games now that reduced budgets are eating into his ability to turn a small drinks affair into a bash never to be forgotten.

The tome was launched at chef Christine Mansfield's new eatery Universal in East Sydney.

       Vogue editor Kirstie Clements & David Grant


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Tonight sees 2 parties that tSS will be at with bells on. The 2010 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras has it's official launch in Oxford Street with promises of a special star guest (last year it was comedian Joan Rivers) and at the Bennelong Restaurant in the Opera House former Prime Minister Bob Hawke celebrates his 80th birthday with a host of Labor Party luminaries including current PM Kevin Rudd.