Just days before the prestigious Academy Awards, nearly all nominees gathered at an exclusive event at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for what served as an Oscars introduction. This event, on Tuesday evening, included a cocktail reception, dinner, and the traditional class photo, replacing the usual Oscars luncheon canceled earlier due to the Southern California wildfires.
With the voting concluded and winners decided, the atmosphere bristled with excitement as contenders mingled in camaraderie. Favorites for best actress, Mikey Madison and Demi Moore, were seen embracing and chatting, as were best actor frontrunners Timothée Chalamet and Adrien Brody.
Cynthia Erivo, nominated for best actress, cheerfully gathered everyone for a group picture at the David Geffen Theater, urging them to shout, “Oscar nominee!” alongside her. Surrounding Erivo in the front row were Ariana Grande from “Wicked,” Monica Barbaro from “A Complete Unknown,” Zoe Saldaña from “Emilia Perez,” and Madison, nominated for “Anora.” Following the photo, the women continued their lively conversation down to the dinner area.
At the theater’s rear, best actor hopefuls Sebastian Stan of “The Apprentice,” Colman Domingo of “Sing Sing,” and Brody, star of “The Brutalist,” shared a table. Once the picture-taking session wrapped up, Academy President Janet Yang provided an orientation talk. She highlighted the significance of the upcoming 97th Academy Awards scheduled for Sunday, individually welcoming both first-timers and those accustomed to nominations. For instance, Denis Villeneuve, director of “Dune: Part 2,” indicated his four-time nominee status, while veteran nominee Diane Warren proudly raised both hands to highlight her 16 nominations for best original song.
Yang remarked on how the wildfires made this year distinctive, underscoring the event’s focus on community and mutual support. Despite the challenges, she affirmed, “The show, the big show, the Oscar show, you know what I’m talking about, will of course go on, and we simply must honor the talent, your talents, this year, as we have every year.” Additionally, Yang reiterated the often-overlooked guideline that acceptance speeches should be succinct, encouraging everyone to recite the designated 45-second duration. “Forty-five!” they replied, collectively acknowledging the timeline. She advised nominees to be heartfelt, humorous, poignant, and most importantly, concise in their speeches.
A bit later, a tardy nominee arrived, prompting Grande to inquire humorously if the photographer could take another shot. As the large group dissipated, Chalamet exchanged greetings and hugs with reporters present.
While the event glittered with star power, it also served as a crucial occasion for many lesser-known nominees, whose work extends from short film animation to sound mixing. Each attendee wore similar black name tags, emphasizing their equality with A-list celebrities. Among them, Madison and Isabella Rossellini, nominated for best supporting actress for “Conclave,” were seen having a lengthy conversation during the cocktails hour. Joining their chat were Moore, “Anora” director Sean Baker, and “The Apprentice” co-star Jeremy Strong, nominated for best supporting actor.
During the mingling, Rossellini and Madison exchanged adorable dog photos, with Strong commenting on Rossellini’s apparent farm. Samantha Quan, a producer on “Anora” and Baker’s spouse, playfully inquired about Rossellini’s goats.
As the evening progressed, guests adhered to the “cocktail” dress code in diverse attire. Madison, Grande, and Moore adorned elegant evening gowns, while Rossellini styled herself with a smoking jacket, necktie, and gold brooch. Strong donned a casual brown bomber jacket and sneakers, whereas Chalamet arrived in a unique blend of a shiny, formal black denim jacket paired with a substantial gold chain.
Media, publicists, partners, and additional guests eventually made way as the nominees headed to a private dinner exclusive to them. Notably absent from the festivities appeared to be Elton John, nominated for best original song, Ralph Fiennes, vying for best actor in “Conclave,” and Karla Sofía Gascón, nominated for best actress in “Emilia Perez.” Despite their absence, the night prepared all attendees for the upcoming Oscars, providing moments of reflection and celebration of collective achievements.
