‘Sinners’ arrives as the most nominated film in the history of these awards, with 16 nominations, followed by ‘One Battle After Another’, which aspires to 13 awards. The cast of ‘Sinners’, led by Michael J. Fox, had their big moment on Tuesday at the traditional Oscar Nominees Luncheon. “You don’t always get nine nominations,” he stated, and assured that he is facing the season with calm because his expectations are not personal. “I know I’m not going to win, but I believe my team will,” pointed out the director, who joked that this awards season has been incredibly fast, to the point that he hasn’t even had time to wash his suit. The Mexican was in the center of the photo, and behind him were Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson (‘One Battle After Another’), two tough contenders in the Best Director category and responsible for two of the most popular films of this edition. “We are all winners… until it’s the Oscars and not all of us are,” said EFE Diane Warren, who has 17 nominations to the awards and is currently competing in this edition for Best Original Song, about the festive atmosphere that was breathed in a hall of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Beverly Hills. Jessie Buckley, one of the favorites in the Best Actress category for ‘Hamnet’, and Amy Mulligan, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Weapons’, starred in an effusive reunion between the tables, and between laughs and hugs, they shouted: “I love my job!”. For his part, Spanish director Oliver Laxe, nominated by ‘Sirat’ in the category of Best International Feature Film, did not stop talking to celebrities such as Timothée Chalamet (‘Marty Supreme’) or Jacob Elordi (‘Frankenstein’), with whom he took several photographs and with whom he shares a similar height. Elordi commented that he felt “very relaxed” during the chaotic encounter, while Chalamet told EFE that he was “very happy to attend for the first time” the event, since, although he was nominated last year, he could not participate due to press commitments. Benicio del Toro, nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for ‘One Battle After Another’, told EFE that he saw the Super Bowl halftime show starring his compatriot Bad Bunny and that “he got goosebumps” with his performance, in addition to emphasizing that, as a Puerto Rican, he represents his country every day. Brazilian director Kleber de Mendonça Filho, nominated for ‘O Agente Secreto’, described the atmosphere as “full of energy like a power plant”, and assured EFE that he was excited to meet Spielberg. While Wagner Moura, the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor, told EFE that he was “very excited to represent Brazil”. The president of the Hollywood Academy, Lynette Howell Taylor, offered the nominees some advice and rules to follow during the gala, such as preparing an authentic speech, avoiding the use of cell phones on stage and, above all, not exceeding the 45 seconds allocated for thanks. The 98th edition of the Oscars will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
