"All the big shots were there so they had a lot of security," Mr. Rao recalled. "It was for special invitees only. I tried to sneak in three or four times but got kicked out.

"Then Barry (Parker) passed by. He got me a volunteer's button and, when I got inside, I realized there were a lot of others who had gate crashed."

On stage, Mr. Seiger did an extraordinary thing. He thanked the judges for the prize, and, acknowledging he could well use the cash himself, he announced he had decided to hand it over to a fledgling Indian filmmaker who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to go to the Sheridan College animation school in Canada.

"I thought to myself, 'lucky guy'," said Mr. Rao. "And then Ted called my name. For some time I couldn't get up and everyone was wondering who this guy is."

"A gasp went through the whole audience," recalled Mr. Pindal.