Hollywood’s brightest stars gathered on Tuesday evening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for a special dinner celebrating this year’s Oscar nominees. The event offered a rare opportunity for contenders, from actors to directors and sound editors, to mingle ahead of Sunday’s prestigious Academy Awards ceremony.
Over 200 nominees from various categories, including Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and Demi Moore, were in attendance. Chalamet, nominated for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, stood out in an all-black ensemble, accessorizing with his name tag clipped to his pants pocket. He later chatted with Adrien Brody, star of The Brutalist, at the bar.
Grande, nominated for her role in Wicked, turned heads in a striking black dress adorned with pink feathers, a nod to her character, Galinda, from the Wizard of Oz prequel. Moore, who earned a nomination for her portrayal of a fading celebrity in The Substance, looked elegant in a white pant suit.
Other notable attendees included Sebastian Stan, Cynthia Erivo, Isabella Rossellini, Fernanda Torres, Edward Norton, Zoe Saldana, Colman Domingo, and Jeremy Strong, among many others.
Before dinner, the nominees gathered for a group photo, which would typically take place at the annual nominees’ luncheon. However, this year’s luncheon was canceled due to the wildfires that recently impacted Los Angeles and disrupted Hollywood’s awards season.
During the dinner, Academy President Janet Yang addressed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of honoring this year’s talent. She acknowledged the challenging year but highlighted the resilience and spirit of the film industry. “We must honor the talent – your talents – this year, as we have every year, as part of a tradition that is now 97 years old,” Yang said. “It brings so much joy to people all over the world.”
As the Oscars approach, the atmosphere of community and support remains central to the celebration, as the industry continues to heal from the devastation of the fires. The ceremony on Sunday is set to be a memorable event that not only honors excellence in film but also serves as a symbol of resilience.