Appearing at the Decatur House on Saturday night to host Capitol File magazine’s anniversary party, actor Forest Whitaker found a pair of Washingtonians with whom he has much in common

Local filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine received an Oscar nomination for “War/Dance,” their documentary about Uganda. Whitaker, of course, won the Oscar for Best Actor last year for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Their films even shared a supporting actor in Stephen Rwangyezi.

“He gave us Oscar advice,” Sean Fine said. “He said to take it all in, don’t get caught up in the moment.” Fine and his wife will attend a luncheon in Los Angeles for nominees this week.

Whitaker, who appeared with his wife, Keisha, told Yeas & Nays that he expects the writers strike to be resolved so the Oscars can happen as scheduled.

So who does he like to succeed him as best actor? “It’s hard because the performances are so different,” he said, but he added that Daniel Day-Lewis has been receiving most of the awards, so he’s likely the favorite.

He said he expected to present the Best Actress statue to Julie Christie for her work in “Away From Her.”

Also on hand: Stevie Wonder’s wife, Kai Milla Morris, who designed Keisha’s dress.

Later in the evening, Keisha took a guest turn at the DJ turntable. The first song she played? Jay-Z’s “99 Problems but a B**** Ain’t One.” (The same tune the Obama campaign raised some eyebrows with by playing before the candidate’s victory speech in Iowa. Whitaker has donated $2,300 to Obama’s campaign.)

Unlike most celebrity appearances, which are in-and-out affairs, Forest and Keisha even stuck around for the last dance of the night (fittingly to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance”).

http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2008/2/4/Local-filmmakers-accept-Whitakers-Oscar-advice