Stars pack the Polo Lounge for Chanel and Charles Finch’s 17th pre-Oscar dinner

Hollywood’s Elite Gather for Intimate Pre-Oscar Celebration at Beverly Hills Hotel

The iconic Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel transformed into a nexus of star power Saturday night as Chanel and film producer Charles Finch hosted their 17th annual pre-Oscar dinner, bringing together cinema’s brightest talents on the eve of Hollywood’s biggest night.

A constellation of celebrities including Teyana Taylor, Mick Jagger, Kristen Stewart and Wagner Moura mingled on the storied patio, creating an atmosphere of relaxed elegance that contrasted with the high-pressure environment awaiting many attendees at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Jessie Buckley, widely favored to take home the Best Actress award, noted the intimate nature of the gathering compared to the spectacle to come. “It’s like a prelude to tomorrow, right?” she remarked on the red carpet, where only a handful of photographers and reporters were present. Buckley dazzled in a Matthieu Blazy-designed dress adorned with dragonfly embellishments on the straps, which she described as feeling “like a fairy tale.”

For Maggie Kang, co-director of the animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters,” the evening served as a momentary respite before what promises to be a momentous Sunday. Her film is anticipated to win both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, with a planned performance of its hit track “Golden” expected to become a cultural touchstone.

“It’s epic. It’s a lot of drama,” Kang said of the upcoming performance. “I had tears just watching the rehearsal. It was really amazing. It’s going to be a big cultural moment.”

The exclusive gathering saw the patio filled with Oscar nominees, winners, filmmakers and celebrities engaged in animated conversation. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos were spotted chatting with Sigourney Weaver and Jessica Alba, while elsewhere Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård engaged in deep discussion with musician and screenwriter Nick Cave.

In another corner, Kristen Stewart posed for photos with Teyana Taylor, and Nicole Kidman reconnected with Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne. Byrne later found herself reminiscing with “Bridesmaids” co-star Maya Rudolph, with whom she had rehearsed for the Academy Awards ceremony earlier that day at the Dolby Theatre.

The social dynamics flowed freely across the venue, with Mick Jagger seeking out “Sentimental Value” filmmaker Joachim Trier, while Molly Sims and her film producer husband Scott Stuber conversed with “Love Story” star Sarah Pidgeon. Director Josh Safdie of “Marty Supreme” navigated the crowd to connect with co-writer and co-editor Ronald Bronstein in what appeared to be a slightly chaotic but warm reunion.

Chanel’s relationship with cinema stretches back nearly a century, beginning when studio mogul Samuel Goldwyn invited house founder Gabrielle Chanel to Hollywood in 1931 to design costumes for stars like Gloria Swanson. This partnership evolved through the decades, with Chanel later collaborating with French New Wave luminaries both on and off screen, including Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Alain Resnais and Louis Malle.

This tradition continues today, with the fashion house recently recreating a 1956 haute couture bustier dress for Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague” as a nod to the era. Beyond costume design, Chanel has played a significant role in supporting independent cinema, including funding Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut “The Chronology of Water,” financing film restorations like Wim Wenders’ “Paris, Texas,” and sponsoring film festivals and emerging filmmaking talent.

“I felt, like, mutually seen and supported by these people since I was a very young person,” Stewart reflected on her relationship with the brand. “Functioning in this sort of industry, business, Hollywood slash fashion world as a kiddo is a bizarro, and with them it’s always felt incredibly authentic and sort of from a storyteller’s perspective.”

Charles Finch began hosting Oscar-adjacent gatherings approximately three decades ago, primarily for international filmmakers who found themselves without social engagements during Hollywood’s busiest weekend. The partnership with Chanel has elevated these gatherings into one of the most coveted invitations of awards season.

“Being on a film set reminds you that cinema is a universal language,” Finch noted. “On the film I’m working on now, the crew includes British, American, French, and Portuguese artisans — all united by one goal: to bring a story to life. That spirit is what tonight is about — and how this dinner originated: celebrating cinema, storytelling, and the storytellers who make the magic happen.”