Hollywood
Oscar foretaste: Berger & Co. at the nominees’ lunch
Edward Berger (lr), Malte Grunert, Albrecht Schuch and James Friend pose for a portrait at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. photo
© Chris Pizzello/Invision via AP/dpa
Wild mushroom risotto, fine desserts and advice for the Oscar gala: This time, guests from Germany can take part in the coveted lunch alongside top-class Hollywood celebrities.
Hardly anyone can miss this lunch in Hollywood: Stars such as Tom Cruise, Austin Butler, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steven Spielberg and Michelle Williams met at the traditional Oscar lunch on Monday (local time). Among the dozens of trophy contenders at the Beverly Hilton Hotel was German director Edward Berger – along with nominated filmmakers who worked on the anti-war drama “Nothing New in the West”.
With nine nominations, the German film is one of the Oscar favorites, including in the top category “Best Film”. Only the weird science fiction comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has more chances of winning with eleven entries.
At the “Luncheon” reception a few weeks before the Oscar gala (on March 12), dozens of filmmakers, including actors, directors, make-up artists, special effects makers and short filmmakers, traditionally celebrate their nominations.
Traditional group picture
In addition to director Berger, film producer Malte Grunert, composer Volker Bertelmann, special effects expert Frank Petzold, cameraman James Friend, make-up artist Heike Merker and screenwriters Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell also came from the “Nothing New in the West” team.
All guests lined up shoulder to shoulder in a semicircle for the traditional group picture. Tom Cruise, who has Oscar chances as the producer of “Top Gun: Maverick”, beams alongside actress Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”).
The nominees fortified themselves at lunch with wild mushroom risotto and fine desserts – and received advice for the Oscar gala. Janet Yang, president of the Oscars Academy, urged future winners to keep their acceptance speeches short on stage, People.com reported. Speeches are limited to 45 seconds, after which the music usually ramps up.