FILM SNEAK PEEK CRISTALS HONOR WOMEN.

Byline: - Valerie Kuklenski

After four years in the south of France, Le Prix Cristal awards will land in Los Angeles Sunday for a star-studded black-tie ceremony on the 20th Century Fox lot.

The fifth annual Le Prix Cristal International Film Star Awards, honoring the bodies of work of exceptional women in the entertainment industry, will be held at the Daryl F. Zanuck Theatre. Honorees include Laura Linney as dramatic actress of the year, Charlize Theron as international actress, Rachel Leigh Cook as new discovery of the year and Nancy Meyers for directing. Marlo Thomas is slated to receive the humanitarian honor.

Le Prix Cristal originated as one of the top-draw galas during the Cannes International Film Festival. It will maintain its French influence with Arc de Triomphe sets and a gala dinner prepared by the chef of L'Orangerie.

There also will be a live auction of such rare items as a $17,000 bottle of Cristal champagne, a wedding gown designed by Elizabeth Emanuel in honor of what would have been Princess Diana's 20th anniversary, and designer Judith Ripka's ``Duchess'' necklace of pink tourmalines, diamonds and 18-karat gold.

Tickets are $500 each for the awards program, gala and auctions, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Tickets for the awards ceremony only are $138. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at [phone] or Le Prix Cristal at [phone].

GLOOM BUSTER: Seventy-two photographs of comedy legend Buster Keaton go on display today at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and not one of them shows him smiling.

Apparently Keaton began working on his trademark deadpan as a baby, when he mustered only an ambiguous Mona Lisa look for one picture. Just the same, the show offers a broad look at Keaton, from his vaudeville career and an unbilled part in a Fatty Arbuckle comedy to candid moments on sets and at home.

The exhibit, ``Buster Keaton Revisited: Rare Photographs of a Comic Genius,'' was compiled from the holdings of the Margaret Herrick Library with contributions from Columbia and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer sources as well as Keaton's widow, Eleanor, shortly before her death in 1998.

In conjunction with the exhibit, on May 18 the academy will screen Keaton's classic ``Go West,'' accompanied by the Grand Pacific Orchestra. The print, struck by the Academy Film Archive, is touted as closer to the original than any other version.

The gallery admission is free, while film tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for academy members. The motion picture academy is at 8949 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Information: [phone].

'KARAOKE' CRAZE: ``Karaoke Fever'' is attracting attention at the Los Angeles Film Festival, which is giving it another screening at 11 a.m. Saturday.

It's a documentary about Angelenos who can't resist an open mic. It is said to be a little rustic in audio and video qualities, but the performers are intriguing, from the sword-slinging Arianna and her five-octave range to Sinatra wanna-be Vaughn Suponatime. (Admit it, you wouldn't have given the filmmakers your real name either.)

``Karaoke Fever'' plays at the Laemmle Sunset Five, 8000 Sunset Blvd. Tickets and information: [phone] or www.lafilmfest.com.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

This photo of Buster Keaton, left, Thelma Todd and Jimmy Durante, taken during the making of the 1932 film ``Speak Easily,'' is part of the exhibit ``Buster Keaton Revisited: Rare Photographs of a Comic Genius.''