News

Nominees Gather at Oscar Luncheon

Yesterday, 15 of the acting nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards attended the annual Nominees Luncheon, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. One hundred and twenty nominees total gathered for the luncheon, where they received certificates marking their nominations as well as commemorative shirts. A traditional group portrait was taken as well.

Among the actors who attended were Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke, Anne Hathaway, Melissa Leo, Kate Winslet, and Marisa Tomei. All the nominated directors attended, including Gus Van Sant, Stephen Daldry, David Fincher, Ron Howard, and Danny Boyle.

At the luncheon, Academy president Sid Ganis promised that the ceremony has undergone a makeover, will "take some risks," and that the acting categories would be presented in a totally different way. The celebrity presenters will not be announced in advance of the broadcast, either, in hopes of creating some suspense. He also claimed that those nominated in the technical categories—such as cinematography and editing—would also be in for a surprise during the telecast. The Academy is using a new team of producers to put on the show, in hopes of reversing the ceremony's ratings decline over the past few years. Details about the changes have purposely been kept under wraps.

Hugh Jackman will host the show, which will air February 22 on ABC from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
02.02.09