Tom Cruise at the 95th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon.Photo: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty
The95th Academy Awardsare approaching, and this year’s nominees gathered to celebrate.
On Monday, stars likeTom Cruise,Brendan Fraser,Hong Chau,Angela Bassett,Austin Butler,Michelle Williams,Steven Spielbergand more nominees showed up to the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., for the 95th annual Oscars nominees luncheon.
ActorsMichelle YeohandPaul Mescalgreeted each other during the event, hugging and congratulating each other on their nominations for lead performances inEverything Everywhere all at OnceandAftersun, respectively.
Elvisstar Butler, 31,Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveractress Bassett, 64, and Cruise, 60, were spotted greeting each other, congratulating each other on their recognition while in a group hug.
Cruise, who is nominated as a producer behind theTop Gun: Mavericksequel up for Best Picture, also reunited with Spielberg, 76, at the gathering. (He and the director made 2002’sMinority Reportand 2005’sWar of the Worldstogether.)
Angela Bassett.CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty
“This is fun,” Cruise told PEOPLE at one point during the luncheon Monday. “I’m enjoying it.”
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Steven Spielberg and Ke Huy Quan.Frazer Harrison/Getty
During the event, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Janet Yang addressedWill Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock during last year’s Oscars, telling the room of nominees that the Academy’sinitial response to the incidentwas “inadequate.” (Smith, who has apologized, resigned from the Academy, which banned him from attending its events for 10 years.)
“We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions, and particularly in times of crisis we must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry,” Yang said in a speech. “You should and can expect no less from us going forward.”
Hong Chau and Brendan Fraser.Monica Schipper/WireImage
Yang added that the Academy’s efforts to “maintaining the highest of standards while creating the changes we wish to see” in the film industry include inspiring young people who want to work in film.
“This is how we create the global film community of the future, one that’s open to ideas and cultures from all corners,” Yang said at the luncheon. “I urge us all to focus our efforts on nurturing the extraordinary, brilliant community that we inhabit.”
When it came time for the group photo with all the nominees present for the luncheon, Jamie Lee Curtis was first called up, receiving a big round of applause.
Austin Butler and Tom Cruise.Frazer Harrison/Getty
Prior to that, Yang informed this year’s nominees, “One rule we asks of those privileged to take the stage on Oscar night: the 45-second rule. Your acceptance speech must be 45 seconds tops. We’ve worked really hard to keep all the awards live this year, so we need to keep the speeches short.”
source: people.com
