Celeb Photos: Sony Pictures Classics Hosts Exclusive Annual Pre-Academy Awards® Dinner Party

Sony Pictures Classics fêted its 2015 Academy Awards® nominees and 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees and winners at its annual Pre-Oscar® dinner party at STK Steakhouse in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 21st.

The event was generously hosted at The ONE Group’s STK restaurant as part of A-List Communication’s Supper Suite by STK culinary platform events. Event sponsors also included Ketel One Vodka and the new KIA K900.

Celebrity/nominated guests included: Julianne Moore (nominated for Best Actress for STILL ALICE, wearing light up Tom Ford shoes; Mark Ruffalo (nominated for Best Supporting Actor for FOXCACTHER).

J.K. Simmons (nominated for Best Supporting Actor for WHIPLASH); Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado (nominated for Best Documentary for THE SALT OF THE EARTH); Damian Chazelle (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for WHIPLASH); Tom Cross (nominated for Best Editing for WHIPLASH); Dick Pope (nominated for Best Cinematography for MR. TURNER); Jacqueline Durran (nominated for Best Costume Design for MR. TURNER)

Dennis Liddieard (nominated for Best Hairstyling, FOXCATCHER); Andrey Zvyagintsev (nominated for Best Foreign Film for LEVIATHAN); Damián Szifrón (nominated for Best Foreign Film for WILD TALES); Augustin Almodovar; Producer David Lancaster (WHIPLASH); Singer Taylor Dane; Model Selita Ebanks

This year’s event for the venerable indie studio honored SPC’s nominees, led by a whopping eighteen Academy Award® nominations for SPC films, including WHIPLASH,FOXCATCHER, STILL ALICE, MR. TURNER, THE SALT OF THE EARTH (Best Documentary), LEVIATHAN (Best Foreign Film), and WILD TALES (Best Foreign Film). Still sizzling from Cate Blanchett’s Best Actress Oscar Win last year, SPC has a strong contender in this category again, with odds-on favorite Julianne Moore’s Best Actress nod for her performance in STILL ALICE.

Bennett Miller’s FOXCATCHER is in the hunt for five awards, with nominees Steve Carell (Best Actor), Mark Ruffalo (Best Supporting Actor), Dan Futterman and E. Max Frye(Best Original Screenplay), and Miller for Best Director, as well as Best Makeup and Hairstyling, for Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard.

SPC also has a Best Picture nominee with WHIPLASH, which received 4 additional nominations, including: Best Supporting Actor favorite, JK Simmons, Damien Chazelle (Best Adapted Screenplay), Tom Cross (Best Editing) and Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley (Best Sound Mixing).

Mike Leigh’s MR. TURNER received 4 nominations, including those for best cinematography for Dick Pope, Jacqueline Durran (Best Costume Design), Suzie Davies and Charlotte Watts (Best Production Design), and Gary Yershon for Best Original Score.

Sony Pictures Classics’ nominations round out with three in what have become perennial categories for the company: Best Documentary for Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders’ THE SALT OF THE EARTH and Best Foreign Film for both Andrey Zvyagintsev (LEVIATHAN) and Damián Szifrón (WILD TALES).

Guests were in high spirits coming from the annual Film Independent Spirit Awards where Sony Picture Classics had fifteen nominations and arrived at the event with three wins in hand by Julianne Moore (Best Female Lead for STILL ALICE); J.K. Simmons (Best Supporting Male for WHIPLASH); and Tom Cross (Best Editing for WHIPLASH).

All the guests, along with their supporters and friends, were treated to sumptuous hors d’oeuvres accompanied by Ketel One Vodka Cocktails and premium bar during the cocktail hour. The pre-awards dinner featured a unique signature menu specifically crafted for the evening by STK’s culinary team led by Executive Chef Robert Liberato. The meal featured highlights such as grass fed Piedmontese filets and hand cut caper pappardelle, with each course expertly paired with Ketel One Vodka cocktails and Sterling wines.

The pre-awards dinner talent enjoyed transportation in the new Kia K900. Designed to leave an indelible impression, the modern and elegant Kia K900 challenges the rear-drive luxury segment with world-class design, craftsmanship, technology and premium driving dynamics.

This signature Oscar’s week event was a strictly private event for guests of Sony Pictures Classics to celebrate this year’s nominees of the Academy Awards® and Independent Spirit Awards. The exclusive fête was produced by A-List Communications. 

Our sponsors include STK, a unique concept that artfully blends the modern steakhouse and chic lounge into one, offering a dynamic, fine dining experience with the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse. STK distinguishes itself by focusing on the social experience with a sleek, contemporary design and an in-house DJ who creates an infectious, high-energy vibe. The menu features reimagined classic American cuisine with signature dishes like bite-sized Lil BRGs made with Wagyu beef, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Foie Gras French Toast and, of course, the highest quality USDA Prime steak. STK defines the modern fine dining experience with incredible food, world-class service and the perfect atmosphere.

STK has locations in New York City, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and London with additional locations coming soon to Orlando, Chicago and Milan.

About The ONE Group, The ONE Group is a global hospitality company that develops and operates upscale, high-energy restaurants and lounges and provides hospitality management services for hotels, casinos and other high-end venues both nationally and internationally. The ONE Group’s primary restaurant brand is STK ®, a modern twist on the American steakhouse concept with locations in major metropolitan cities throughout the U.S. and in London. 

STK Rebel SM, a more accessibly priced STK ® with a broader menu, is an extension of the STK ® brand.  The ONE Group’s food and beverage hospitality services business, ONE Hospitality SM, provides the development, management and operations for premier restaurants and turn-key food and beverage services within high-end hotels and casinos.

For more information about STK, please visit www.stkhouse.com, www.facebook.com/STKhouse 

Additional information about The ONE Group can be found at www.togrp.com.


Photo credit Todd Wlliamson, AP/Invision

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