Oscar week is finally here! Ask anyone who has been in the thick of awards season and they’ll likely let out a huge sigh followed by exasperated admission that this has been one of the most hectic runs in recent memory. The condensed calendar, forced by last year’s dual strikes, could translate to more lively bashes, however, as there’s light at the end of the tunnel with Sunday’s Oscars. That can only mean that champagne is currently popping at A-list bashes across Los Angeles, and The Hollywood Reporter is on the scene everywhere from Vanity Fair and Elton John to MPTF’s Night Before. See below for the roundup of all the red carpet action.
Vanity Fair
Editor in chief Radhika Jones hosted a milestone 30th anniversary party at a custom designed structure that connects the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with Beverly Hills City Hall. Stepping on to the 125 feet-long carpet — styled in red and gold to honor the milestone — were the most winners outside of the Dolby including Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr., Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cord Jefferson, Arthur Harari, Justine Triet, Jonathan Glazer, Ludwig Göransson, Finneas, Billie Eilish and more. In-N-Out burgers remained in high demand, but guests were definitely salivating over the five different styles of pies coming out of Evan Funke’s custom three oven pizza bar.
On the scene: LeBron James, Roger Federer, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalen Hurts, Serena Williams, Russell Wilson, Nancy and Paul Pelosi, Justin Timberlake, Ice Spice Rose, Usher, Maggie Rogers, Cardi B, Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Adam Mosseri, Riz Ahmed, Pamela Anderson, Will Arnett, Patricia Arquette, Jonathan Bailey, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Bateman, Emily Blunt, Matt Bomer, Danielle Brooks, Sterling K. Brown, Nicolas Cage, Larry David, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Chris Evans, Jodie Foster, Julia Fox, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Stephanie Hsu, Charles Melton, Florence Pugh, Issa Rae, Renee Rapp, Mark Ruffalo, Meg Ryan, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Wright, Michelle Yeoh, Steven Yeun, Teo Yoo, Ramy Youssef, Greta Gerwig, Shonda Rhimes, Daniel Scheinert, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Olivia Wilde and dozens of others.
Universal Oscars Afterparty
Steven Spielberg was among the well-wishers who sought out Donna Langley at Universal and Focus Features’ post-Oscar bash at the Soho House in West Hollywood, where glasses never stopped clinking after Oppenheimer’s sweep with seven wins, including best picture and best director for Christopher Nolan (his first). Langley, tucked away in a corner in the back room with Comcast brass Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh, was mobbed throughout the evening, as were Cillian Murphy, who won best actor in Christopher Nolan’s epic tale of the making of the atomic bomb, and Emily Blunt. Guests also clamored to speak with Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who won best supporting actress for Focus Features’ The Holdovers, and get a closer look at her show-stopping dress. Nolan and producing partner/wife Emma Thomas showed up close to midnight to spend time with Langley, and to perhaps to close out the historic evening with one of several custom cocktails, such as “The Oppenhomie,” a concoction of gin, honey rum plus other ingredients. — Pamela McClintock
Searchlight Pictures Oscar Party
Searchlight Pictures had plenty to toast after the telecast, picking up five wins including a best actress trophy for Poor Things star Emma Stone. Joining the fun at Dante Beverly Hill were senior leaders Bob Iger, Matthew Greenfield, David Greenbaum, Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and Poor Things best makeup and hairstyling winners Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston; Poor Things best production design winners James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek; Poor Things costume design winner Holly Waddington; and best documentary short winners for The Last Repair Shop, Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot. Making the rounds at the party, hosted in collaboration with Louis Vuitton and presented with music by DJ Michelle Pesce, were Yorgos Lanthimos, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemmons, Eva Longoria, Nicholas Ghesquiere, Pat McGrath, Julie Delpy, Jaden Smith, Paul Feig, Lukas Gage and Aldis Hodge, among others.
Netflix Oscars Afterparty
Netflix celebrated its nominees — including Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Jodie Foster, Coleman Domingo, Jon Batiste and May December writer Samy Burch — with a post-ceremony party at Mother Wolf on Sunday night.
Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party
Elton John and David Furnish co-hosted their annual Oscar viewing party on Sunday, this year alongside Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka and Tiffany Haddish. The event raised a record-breaking $10.8 million in support of the Foundation’s work to end the AIDS epidemic, and welcomed guests including Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, Donatella Versace, Alicia Silverstone, Billy Eichner, Sharon Stone, Brandi Carlile, Tim Allen, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Patricia Arquette, Zooey Deschanel, Melanie Lynskey, Alexis Bledel, Toni Braxton and Smokey Robinson. John also hopped on stage for a performance of “Are You Ready For Love” alongside R&B-Soul-Pop Trio Gabriels.
Apple Original Film
The streamer went back to its usual post-award show stomping grounds at Sunset Tower for an afterparty to celebrate the awards season run of Killers of the Flower Moon. Though the Martin Scorsese epic ended the night empty handed, the team, including stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert DeNiro and Jesse Plemons, among others, turned up to celebrate the films 10 Oscar nominations. They were joined by Apple CEO Tim Cook, Patricia Arquette, Kirsten Dunst, Cristo Fernandez, Janae Collins, Yancey Red Corn, Tatanka Means, Tantoo Cardinal, Chief Standing Bear, Billy Harris, Rodrigo Prieto, Jillian Dion, Thelma Schoonmaker, Cara Jade Myers and others.
Unity Watch Party
The Latinx House, alongside partners at The Blackhouse Foundation, Gold House, Hispanic Heritage Foundation Harness, IllumiNative and NAACP, hosted a red carpet event and watch party on Oscar night, co-hosted by Annie Gonzalez, Diana Maria Riva, Jenny Yang, Julissa Calderon, Lisa Vidal and Sarah Jones.
Chanel and Charles Finch 15th annual pre-Oscars dinner
It’s always a good sign when A-listers not only arrive on time but early for an Oscar weekend party. The start time for Saturday night’s chic affair was 7:30 p.m. but Robert DeNiro and girlfriend Tiffany Chen walked into the Polo Lounge at precisely 7:03 p.m. (without stopping for photos or interviews on the press line). Who can blame them? The party partnership — celebrating a milestone 15th anniversary this year — places a strong emphasis on supporting cinema but it also offers an elevated reprieve from the hustle and bustle of awards season by welcoming stars, artists and senior industry executives inside the hideaway at the Beverly Hills Hotel for cocktails and dinner. “It’s always beautiful, it’s always tasteful, it’s always glamorous,” is how Rebecca Hall, a frequent attendee and friend of the house, describes the party. A bonus for the actress is that she’s friends with Finch from London and so the party always hosts a bevy of Londoners. “At this point, everyone has been going so long during awards season so they’re tired. There’s a sense of elation and relief that the finish line is just around the corner and it’s almost time to just let go.” Nominees on the scene included Chanel ambassador Margot Robbie, Sandra Hüller, America Ferrera, Jeffrey Wright, Colman Domingo, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Cord Jefferson, Jonathan Glazer and Celine Song along with guests like Usher, Kerry Washington, Ted Sarandos and Nicole Avant, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, Jennifer Salke, Scott Stuber and Molly Sims, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, Gracie Abrams, Ava Duvernay, Chloe Sevigny, Danny and Jack Huston, Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow, Tessa Thompson, Riz Ahmed, Michael Keaton, Jon Batiste, Matthew Heineman, Dominic Sessa and Olivia Munn and John Mulaney, among others. “I love saying yes to Chanel because I love the people who work there,” explains Alexandra Shipp, wearing a pink, navy and white fantasy tweed jacket from spring-summer 2024 ready-to-wear collection. “When it comes to the brands that I like to foster relationships with, it’s with the people, it’s not just the clothing. We all love the fits by Chanel, but the people that work there, the energy that comes from that group of women who are just pure magic.” Sevigny, in an orange and pink tweed dress from spring and summer 2024 ready-to-wear described it as a “European flavor” that Chanel brings to the scene. “This is a bit more international than other Hollywood events,” she says. “But this is also the Super Bowl for actors so everyone is just excited about the weekend and celebrating the year.” Speaking of celebrating, Robbie has plenty of reasons to toast as the producer of 2023’s highest grossing movie in Barbie and eight Oscar nominations to boot. Though she turned up in a black iridescent silk velvet jacket with feathers — a rare sighting with the Barbie star not wearing pink at a major event — she says “I will love the color forever,” adding, “I only have happy memories associated with it. It looks great on everyone.”
Giorgio Armani Oscars Party
Roberta Armani hosted a private cocktail party on Saturday, held at the Giorgio Armani boutique on Rodeo Drive, in celebration of Martin Scorsese’s 10th Academy Award nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon. Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jeffrey Wright, Nicolas Cage, Willem Dafoe, Ke Huy Quan, John Mulaney and Olivia Munn were among the guests.
WME Oscar Party
The top agency took over Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills for a Friday night bash that was hosted by WME co-chairmen Christian Muirhead and Richard Weitz and packed with nominated clients like Christopher Nolan, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Lame, Ludwig Göransson, Kemp Powers, David Hemingson, Sean Wang, Jacqueline Durran and Andrew Wyatt. Additional guests included Austin Butler, Babyface, Barry Keoghan, Brie Larson, Camila Cabello, Carl Nassib, Chloe Sevigny, Chrissy Teigen, Chuck Roven, Dustin Hoffman, Edward Enninful, Emma Thomas, Eva Longoria, Hailey Bieber, Janelle Monae, Javier Bardem, Joanna Calo, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Keanu Reeves, Kenya Barris, Killer Mike, Kristen Stewart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mahershala Ali, Marshawn Lynch, Nicolas Cage, Rachel Sennott, Rebecca Hall, Riz Ahmed, Rob Lowe, Sam Levinson, Seth MacFarlane, Snoop Dogg, Steven Yeun, Usher, Willem Dafoe and Zac Efron. Industry execs making rounds inlcuded Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Disney’s newly-promoted David Greenbaum, Conde Nast’s Roger Lynch, Bob Kraft, Endeavor’s Ariel Emanuel, Mark Shapiro and Patrick Whitesell. The party featured 10 themed areas including a Chinatown night market, Egyptian lounge, casino and bedroom resembling Cher’s pad in Clueless, which led to a Narnia-inspired speakeasy. Guests to music by T.Nava, Domi & JD Beck, DJ Allie Tielz, and Two11, with catering courtesy of the h.wood Group and dessert from Dr. Bombay Ice Cream. Bar offerings included Tequila Don Julio 1942, Gin + Juice, Moet-Chandon, Flecha Azul Tequila, CACTI Hard Seltzer, Peroni, VOSS, Happy Coffee, and Olipop. Illusionist Simon the Mentalist and a tarot card reader entertained guests while the casino offered gambling for good with 100 percent of proceeds from Rhuigi Villaseñor-designed chips were donated to Hollywood Cinema Production Resources. Celebrity tattoo artist Winterstone also made sure that some guests had permanent ink to remember the bash.
