Five days before the Oscars, nominees gathered for an intimate dinner in Los Angeles, where Academy President Janet Yang reminded them to keep their acceptance speeches brief. Meanwhile, Karla Sofía Gascón confirmed her attendance at the ceremony despite past controversies.
Five days ahead of the Oscars, nominees came together for an exclusive dinner in Los Angeles, where Academy President Janet Yang urged them to keep their acceptance speeches concise. At the same time, Karla Sofía Gascón confirmed she would be attending the ceremony despite past controversies.
A Call for Concise and Impactful Speeches
As Hollywood's biggest night approaches, nominees assembled for a dinner where they were reminded to keep their acceptance speeches short. Academy President Janet Yang jokingly referred to herself as a "schoolmarm" while asking them to make their speeches "heartfelt, humorous, poignant and inspirational, but brief." While the 45-second limit is rarely enforced, it serves as a guideline to keep the show running smoothly.
Among those present were Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini. James Mangold, director of A Complete Unknown, arrived late for the annual "class photo," causing a quick reshoot. Meanwhile, Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both starring in Wicked, sat front and center as Chalamet chatted with Anora director Sean Baker.
A Scaled-Down Gathering After Los Angeles Wildfires
Traditionally, the Academy hosts a glamorous luncheon with press access in early February. However, this year’s event was scaled down in response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Instead, a last-minute dinner was arranged, with Yang emphasizing the importance of supporting those affected by the disaster.
Despite the changes, nominees enjoyed catching up. Mikey Madison, a strong contender for Best Actress for Anora, shared her excitement, stating, "I’ve never been to the Oscars before. We'll see what happens." Demi Moore, nominated for The Substance, joked about not bringing her tiny Chihuahua, Pilaf, who had accompanied her to Cannes.
Karla Sofía Gascón to Attend Oscars Despite Controversy
In a separate development, Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón, the first transgender nominee for Best Actress, confirmed her attendance at the Oscars despite controversy over past racist and Islamophobic tweets. Initially a favorite to win for Emilia Pérez, her campaign suffered after old social media posts resurfaced in January. Netflix distanced itself from her to minimize backlash.
However, after maintaining a period of silence, Gascón announced her return, thanking those who supported her. While she will attend, it remains unclear whether she will walk the red carpet, give interviews, or sit with the film’s cast. Reports also suggest she will attend the César Awards in Paris before heading to Los Angeles.
Emilia Pérez, an unconventional musical about a drug trafficker’s gender transition, had strong momentum after winning multiple awards at Cannes and the Golden Globes. However, criticism over its portrayal of cartel violence and casting choices, including Selena Gomez’s Spanish-language performance, has sparked debate. Of its 13 Oscar nominations, only Zoe Saldaña’s Best Supporting Actress win seems assured.
With AFP
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