Vanity Fair Celebrates the Tribeca Film Festival April 26, 2006 Written by Noelle Ashley Photographed by Marlo Clemente (Opposite photo - Willem Dafoe and Giada Colagrande)

From Robert De Niro to Jerry Seinfeld, stars of the entertainment field walked a new kind of red carpet: one laid down a long flight of stairs. That's due to the venue of the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival's Vanity Fair party: the New York State Supreme Courthouse at 60 Centre Street and Pearl Street.

Hundreds of candles lined the courthouse steps. Beneath the American flag and the architectural wonders of statues, columns and moldings, the words VANITY FAIR were carved in huge, red block letters above a sign reading, "Tribeca Film Festival."

Ed Burns and Christy Turlington	David Duchovny

The award for best-looking couple goes to Ed Burns and Christy Turlington. Burns, who has a film to promote, said, "It was a no-brainer to come out tonight." When asked what fans yell out these days when they see him on the street, Burns joked, "What fans? Have you seen the box-office returns of my last couple movies?"

Turlington laughed and then praised his new film, The Groomsmen.

Mr. and Mrs. Regis Philbin	Patty Smyth and John McEnroe

Iman and David Bowie were another glamorous duo. The parade of guests included David Duchovny, Jeff Goldblum, Russell Simmons, Fran Liebowitz, Damon Dash and Harvey Weinstein.

Designers Carolina Herrera and Diane von Furstenberg joined the party, as did television stars Barbara Walters and Regis.

Tennis champion John McEnroe came to support the festival. He graciously stopped and answered questions. "De Niro is a quiet, behind-the-scenes guy who stepped up to the plate," he said. "There's more to [the festival] than just seeing a movie."

Carmen Ejogo and Jeffrey Wright	Rachel Roy and Damon Dash

The spirit of celebration was balanced by the previous night's premiere for United 93, the first film to portray 9-11. The victims' families were invited, along with actors like Julia Stiles, Tom Selleck and Gabriel Byrne, to the screening as well as to the reception that followed at the Four Seasons Restaurant. Mickey Rourke said that the festival handles such topics "with integrity."

Working the red carpet with a positive message was the goddess of the Tribeca Film Festival: Jane Rosenthal, De Niro's production partner who helped found the festival.

Walter Cronkite walked up to the camera flashes and asked, "Am I going to be in the movies?"

One photographer replied, "Maybe on TV."

The festivities took place in the same building where New Yorkers report for jury duty. But if Ronald Reagan could go from Hollywood to the White House, why not give celebrities control of the Courthouse in New York? After all, it was only for one night.