Ten years after the wine-infused hit “Sideways” had viewers reaching for the nearest bottle of Pinot Noir, the film’s director, Greek-American Alexander Payne, and its star Paul Giamatti, celebrated at a California charity benefit this week.
At the ranch of the winemaker whose Pinot Noir, Au Bon Climat, was featured in the 2004 comedy, $100,000 was raised for Direct Relief International, a nonprofit organization based in Goleta, California that focuses on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide.
Besides Payne and Giamatti, hundreds of guests attended the event, which included a $1,000/per plate five-course meal.
Payne’s “Sideways” was nominated for numerous awards in 2005, including seven Golden Globes; it won two — Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. The film was also nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Adapted Screenplay for Payne’s writing of the script alongside Jim Taylor.
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