The 96th Annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon brought together a vibrant crowd of celebrities, filmmakers and cinephiles at the iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
Devon Franklin, a member of the Board of Governors, began the event by announcing the names of attendees, starting with esteemed composer Laura Karpman of “American Fiction” and ending with the talented Robert Downey Jr., nominated for his supporting role in “Oppenheimer.”
Here are some key takeaways from the event.
Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper at the 2024 Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon.
Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
The dog from “Anatomy of a Fall” stole the show.
Today's star was the adorable dog from “Anatomy of a Fall.” Macy, the actor who played Snoop in Justin Tritt's film, stole the hearts of almost all the nominees in attendance. From Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera of “Barbie” fame to music sensation Billie Eilish, everyone seemed enamored with the furry star. Tritt's original screenplay may have won an Oscar with the overwhelming affection that showered this season's favorite dog.
So, who won the prestigious title of “applause meter”?
Journalists and social media fans rushed to find out which candidate received the most applause during the group photo session. Names like Greta Gerwig (“Barbie”), Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”), Celine Song (“Past Lives”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), and Lily Gladstone (“Killers of “Pink Moon”) was humming with anticipation.
Keep your speeches short, people!
Brevity is key! Before roll call, AMPAS President Janet Yang took the stage to urge future winners to keep their acceptance speeches brief (under 45 seconds). She humorously referenced Javier Bardem's terse speech during his supporting actor win for “No Country for Old Men” in 2007, which lasted just 37 seconds. The audience laughed when they realized that this year's Oscars would start an hour earlier due to daylight saving time, forcing some last-minute adjustments to attendees' schedules on March 10.
Oppenheimer would win several Oscars.
Christopher Nolan's cinematic masterpiece has captured the hearts of many, with many conversations between nominees echoing the sentiment of, “It's an Oppenheimer year.” The final Oscar tally remains to be seen, but the outcome seems inevitable.
Who didn't show up?
Supporting actress nominee Danielle Brooks from “The Color Purple” was unable to attend due to filming commitments in New Zealand. Additionally, double nominees Jonathan Glazer (“Area of Interest”), Jodie Foster (“Niad”), Robert DeNiro (“Moonflower Killers”) and Hayao Miyazaki (“The Boy and the Heron”) were among those absent.
Emma Stone and Colman Domingo exchanged phone numbers. Hopefully that means they'll be working on something.
Two-time “Poor Things” nominee Emma Stone is seen chatting with Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo from “Rustin” and his husband Raul Domingo. Hopefully there will be a friendship, and perhaps a possible future collaboration? And yes, we caught Domingo in on the “Jeopardy” craze that's been sweeping Stone for weeks, and she still really wants to join the syndicated show. ABC owner Bob Iger was in the room. She should have mentioned that.
Finneas O'Connell and Billie Eilish attend the Academy Award Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
AFP via Getty Images
The “Spider-Man” voice actors came to celebrate.
The entire team behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse starred at the event, including producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Amy Pascal, along with directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. Among those in attendance were the voices behind the characters, such as Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen), who participated in live conversations with Finneas and Billie Eilish. Could they discuss new music collaborations? Additionally, Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya lent his voice to black British rocker Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk, adding even more excitement to the gathering.
Nominees for the 96th Academy Awards® were celebrated at a luncheon held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, February 12, 2024. The 96th Academy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10, live on ABC.
Richard Harbaugh / ©AMPAS