Stars Flock to Polo Lounge for Chanel and Charles Finch's Pre-Oscar Dinner
The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel was abuzz with Hollywood glamour on the Saturday night before the Oscars, as Chanel and film producer Charles Finch co-hosted their 17th annual pre-Oscar dinner. The star-packed event blended celebrity mingling with a heartfelt pitch for supporting filmmakers, drawing a who's who of nominees, winners, and industry luminaries.
A Night of Intimate Celebrations and High Stakes
On the red carpet, Jessie Buckley, the favourite to win best actress at the upcoming ceremony, remarked on the intimate atmosphere, with only a handful of photographers and reporters present. "It's like a prelude to tomorrow, right?" she quipped, wearing a Matthieu Blazy-designed dress adorned with dragonflies on the straps, which she described as feeling like a fairy tale.
Maggie Kang, co-director of the animated musical "KPop Demon Hunters," expressed excitement about the evening while looking ahead to Sunday, when her film is expected to win best animated feature and best original song. She highlighted the planned performance of its hit song "Golden," noting it would celebrate the movie's broader cultural impact. "It's epic. It's a lot of drama," Kang said. "I had tears just watching the rehearsal. It was really amazing. It's going to be a big cultural moment."
A Star-Studded Gathering on the Patio
The patio was densely packed with celebrities sipping drinks and engaging in lively conversations. Notable interactions included:
- Billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos chatting with Sigourney Weaver and Jessica Alba.
- Stellan Skarsgård in deep conversation with Nick Cave.
- Kristen Stewart posing for a photo with Teyana Taylor.
- Nicole Kidman catching up with Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne, who also reunited with her "Bridesmaids" co-star Maya Rudolph after rehearsing earlier at the Dolby Theatre.
Elsewhere, Mick Jagger made his way to "Sentimental Value" filmmaker Joachim Trier, while Molly Sims and her film producer husband Scott Stuber spoke with "Love Story" star Sarah Pidgeon, who was enjoying champagne. "Marty Supreme" director Josh Safdie and his cowriter and co-editor Ronald Bronstein attempted to navigate the crowd toward each other, with a glass possibly becoming a casualty of their meeting.
Chanel's Enduring Legacy in Cinema
Chanel's connection to film spans nearly a century, beginning in 1931 when Samuel Goldwyn invited house founder Gabrielle Chanel to Hollywood to design dresses for stars like Gloria Swanson. Over the decades, the brand collaborated with French New Wave icons such as Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Alain Resnais, and Louis Malle, both on and off screen.
Recent efforts include recreating a haute couture bustier dress from a 1956 collection for Richard Linklater's "Nouvelle Vague" and supporting independent filmmaking through initiatives like Kristen Stewart's directorial debut "The Chronology of Water," film restorations such as Wim Wenders' "Paris, Texas," film festivals, and emerging talent.
Stewart reflected on this support, saying, "I felt, like, mutually seen and supported by these people since I was a very young person. Functioning in like, you know, 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, and so it doesn't surprise me that they want to support storytellers."
Finch's Vision for Celebrating Cinema
Charles Finch started hosting Oscar-related parties about 30 years ago, initially for international filmmakers without other venues. His partnership with Chanel has elevated the dinner into one of the most sought-after tickets in town.
Finch emphasised the universal language of cinema, stating, "Being on a film set reminds you that cinema is a universal language. 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."
The event underscored a blend of luxury, artistry, and community, setting the stage for the Oscars with a focus on the creative forces behind the films.
