This year's MTV Awards may have been a mixed bag in itself, but the real party seemed to happen later that night at the official after-party at the Sydney Hilton.

The Hummerzine out the front was the first sign there were rockstars in the area with the sounds of clinking glass and girls' giggles resonating within.

And while the industry celebrated in the ballroom upstairs, the real party was kicking off downstairs in the Marble Bar where awards host Wyclef Jean (pictured earlier on the red carpet) and Eve entertained select VIPs with a special show of their own, rhyming over party tunes laid down by the DJ.

Party girl Mischa Barton cut loose with her gal pals (including Sydney model Jaime Wright and MTV host Lyndsay Rodriguez) dancing to the side of stage under the watch of her own security guard while actress/singer Juliette Lewis appeared briefly to shake her thang on stage with Wyclef and Eve.

Sadly, 50 Cent and his entourage didn't front to party with Bacardi and stuff. Not that it mattered - primed on a free bar and this rare susperstar performance the crowd didn't really peter out until four in the morning.

Earlier in the night, the MTV Awards roadtested a new, looser format at the new venue of the Australian Tehcnology Park in Redfern. The show itself was a strange, colourful beast peaking early with an impressive red carpet of talent (see all the hot photos here) but let down by a lukewarm, at times awkward awards ceremony.

Wyclef Jean proved a hyper yet incongruous choice of host with many youngsters failing to know who he was, while 50 Cent failed to impress. He bestowed Matt Damon with the Movie Star Award, simply saying "he's one of the best actors around." Of course, Damon wasn't there and accepted via video message. As did an overseas Delta Goodrem who won Best Music Video of the Year for 'Believe Again' - the most expensive video ever shot in Australia.

The Veronicas beat off Silverchair, Sneaky Sound System and Delta Goodrem to take out the Australian Artist Music Award with Jess thanking MTV host Ruby Rose for "being really hot." Of course, the pair infamously pashed last month at the Cleo Bachelor of the Year awards after-party so that should throw some more fuel on the fire. The girls also presented Timbland with International Artist of the Year (yes, another video message) before performing their hit 'Untouched' live in racy, ripped pants.

Other winners included:
New Zealand Artist Award - Scribe
Live Performer Award - Pink, I'm Not Dead Tour
Television Moment Award - Chaser's War On Everything, APEC 2007 stunt
Good Karma Award - Earth Hour
Bad Karma Award - Kevin Andrews
Remake Award - William Weatheritt for Ja'mie's end of term shopping spree.

April 27 2008