Sony Pictures Classic Hosts Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner

Sony Pictures Classics continued their annual Pre-Oscar dinner at STK Los Angeles to recognize a handful of Oscar nominees on Saturday night!

Raising a toast to Oscar nominees

Because the Oscars are Hollywood’s biggest night, Sony knows that the celebrations happen all weekend long. There to celebrate the nominees were Co-presidents Michael Barker alongside Tom Bernard and Sony Pictures Classics very own chairman Tom Rothman. Stars who attended the event included: Glenn Close, nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (The Wife), actress Annie Starke (The Wife) and director Bjorn Runge (The Wife). Nominees for Best Foreign Language Film, Sebastian Koch, Tom Schilling, Saskia Rosendahl, Oliver Masucci, and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck for Never Look Away were also at the event. Capernaum’s director/star Nadine Labaki, as well as Best Cinematography nominee Caleb Deschanel with wife Mary Jo Deschanel and daughter, actress Emily Deschanel were also some of the many stars in attendance that night.

Patricia Rommel, Carlos Gerstenhauer, Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Oliver Masucci, FHvD, Saskia Rosendahl, Quirin Berg, Gabriele Binder, Christiane Henckel von Donnersmarck

Before enjoying a wonderful Saturday night dinner in Westwood, many of the nominees graced their way through the red carpet and The Knockturnal was able to congratulate and get personal insight with the talent on just what it feels like to be an Oscar nominee. What a dream!

Our first conversation was with the Director of Never Look Away, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, here are some highlights:

Sony Pictures Classics Annual Oscar Nominees Gala Dinner sponsored by Maestro Dobel at STK LA
Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Christiane Asschenfeldt

The Knockturnal: What does being nominated mean to you?

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck: Being nominated means that somehow you’ve managed to convince a group of very very distinguished colleagues, other filmmakers, that your film should be seen, because at the end of the day that’s what it is.

The Knockturnal: What’s something you’d want the audience to grasp after seeing that film, knowing now that you’ve contributed to the diverse pool of nominations we’re seeing this year?

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck: I think I’d like people to see that we have a very powerful tool and weapon against political extremism, and that is art. And to have a great time traveling through 30 years of history, seeing it through the lense of how the various dictatorships tried to influence and shape art and how art has been able to escape that.

Up next was Saskia Rosendahl.

Saskia Rosendahl

The Knockturnal: What does it mean for you to be here this weekend, for an Oscar nominated film?

Saskia Rosendahl: I’m really happy to see the reactions! It’s super interesting to see that in different countries the reaction is different and it’s super nice to be here and see that people recognize the work.

The Knockturnal: As you were playing your character, what’s something you definitely wanted to portray?

Saskia Rosendahl: I think for me the most important thing was, to show that she is a beautiful human being and we should be more aware of the diversity of people. And not giving them stamps and putting them away.

The Knockturnal: How does it feel to contribute to this year’s films?

Saskia Rosendahl: I’m honored, basically, nothing that I ever dreamed of, it’s crazy.

Nominated for Best Cinematography was Caleb Deschanel, who we also spoke to.

Caleb Deschanel, Emily Deschanel

The Knockturnal: What does this nomination mean to you?

Caleb Deschanel: Well it’s the 6th time I’ve been nominated, some people get nominated once and win the award and other people get nominated 18 times and never win! You keep thinking ‘well maybe The Academy will say if you’ve been nominated 6 times you automatically get an award’”.

The Knockturnal: Was there anything that inspired you with the making of the film and how you wanted the audience to see it?

Caleb Deschanel: We were inspired by the art, it was inspired by Gerhard Richter, who was kind of the inspiration for the character. It’s really about all these tragedies and all these trials that he goes through that end up becoming the internal workings of what creates the art that he is really wonderful at. It’s one of those things that art comes out of tragedy and all sorts of things and it’s a mystery and we don’t know where it comes from.

Lastly, we spoke with Glenn Close’s daughter Annie Starke (The Wife).

Annie Starke, Marc Albu

The Knockturnal: How has Oscar weekend been for you?

Annie Starke: It’s been great! My feet hurt, but honestly it’s been so wonderful to be here for a project that I love so much!

The Knockturnal: What does this project mean to you and seeing it come to life?

Annie Starke: I’ve been struggling to put it into words. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m so blessed to not only share this character with someone that I love so fiercely, but to be directed by someone like Björn. I’ve learned lessons in this project that I will hold in my heart and my mind for my whole life, and I know people say that, but it’s really true.

The Knockturnal: What does it mean to you to see and contribute to such a diverse pool of films seen by The Academy this year?

Annie Starke: It means the world, and this is how it’s going to be, thank God! Right?! About time. I’m so happy that Yalitza [was nominated], like yes! yes! And I can’t wait to see and hear about stories that she wants to tell, because I’m sure she’s got a lot. So yay!

Of course as we were rapping up the interviews, Annie reminded us that we can’t celebrate without some drinks, but before that of course Glenn Close made a quick appearance on the red carpet with none other that her dog Sir Pippin of Beanfield. As the stars mingled their way to the dinner we also saw Emily Deschanel making her way with her husband David Hornsby who were there to also raise a toast to her father’s nomination.

The dinner at STK served Wild Atlantic Cod, Braised Artichoke Risotto, their STK LA signature New York Steak, tuna tartare, and for dessert a chocolate flourless cake paired with Maestro Dobel Tequila cocktails. Guests could choose from their variety of drinks such as; “Black Diamond Margarita” and “Champagne Paloma,” Sensi Tuscany Wines and Peroni italian beer.