Oscar nominees were given a timely reminder on Tuesday about keeping their acceptance speeches concise, with Academy President Janet Yang urging them to stick to 45 seconds.
At an intimate dinner in Los Angeles, just five days before the Oscars, stars like Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Ralph Fiennes, and Isabella Rossellini gathered for the pre-gala event.
While the Academy doesn’t strictly enforce the time limit, Yang made a light-hearted appeal for nominees to keep their speeches “heartfelt, humorous if you’d like, poignant, inspirational, but brief.”
Reflecting the challenge of this request, “A Complete Unknown” director James Mangold arrived late for the traditional group photo, causing a quick reshoot.
Unlike the usual champagne-filled luncheon in early February, which was canceled this year due to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the event was a smaller, intimate dinner. Yang emphasized the importance of fostering “an atmosphere of support” for those still recovering from the disaster.
While the nominees had the chance to catch up, some took a moment to reflect on their upcoming gala experience.
Mikey Madison, a favorite for Best Actress for her role in Anora, expressed excitement about attending her first Oscars. Meanwhile, Demi Moore joked about her missed opportunity to bring her Chihuahua, Pilaf, who had accompanied her to Cannes.
Ralph Fiennes, who was nominated for an Oscar twice in the 1990s without winning, shared his appreciation for this year’s selection of films, including his thriller Conclave, which is now in the running for Best Picture alongside Anora. Fiennes, who has been traveling frequently between the U.S. and the U.K., remarked on the fun of the evening despite the fatigue of campaigning.
Other nominees, such as Merlin Crossingham, director of Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, expressed relief that the marathon of campaigning would soon be over. “What’s next?” Crossingham joked, “I’m working on sleeping for a week.”
