Photos & Video From The 85th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon

Now that the Super Bowl is over, we can move on to more important things – the Academy Awards.

More than 160 Oscar nominees gathered to do lunch on Monday, February 4, at the Beverly Hilton where the Academy honored this year’s contenders at its annual midday affair. I always look forward to the “class photo” of the nominees and seeing BEASTS OF THE THE SOUTHERN WILD actress Quvenzhané Wallis seated at the statue’s base – front and center – is downright precious!

From the Lead Actress and Actor categories, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Quvenzhané Wallis, Naomi Watts, Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix and Denzel Washington attended. Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Christoph Waltz, Amy Adams, Sally Field, Anne Hathaway, Helen Hunt and Jacki Weaver represented the Supporting Actor and Actress categories.

Directors Ang Lee, David O. Russell, Steven Spielberg also attended and three of the Academy’s four 2012 Governors Awards recipients, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hal Needham and George Stevens, Jr., joined this year’s nominees.

On his ‘snub,’ ARGO director Ben Affleck said it truly was an honor to represent his film at the Academy Awards. He’ll leave the hand-wringing to the ‘Oscar-ologists’ who like to focus on such things.

Asked at the annual Oscar luncheon if there are any doors she can’t yet open, Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway joked about hanging with Steven Spielberg and her dress for the day.

Best actress nominee Jessica Chastain said she plans on a low-key morning Oscar Sunday.

THE IMPOSSIBLE actress Naomi Watts talked about the distinct Aussie flavor among this year’s nominees.

The Academy made good use of social networking this year. They ran a live blog and tweeted from the event for Oscar fans. Various photos were released via The Academy’s Instagram site as well. See the red carpet photos HERE.

Oscar® nominee Quvenzhane Wallis is greeted by Academy President Hawk Koch.

Oscar® nominees Denzel Washington and Quvenzhane Wallis

Oscar® nominees Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper

Jennifer Lawrence and Hugh Jackman

Supporting actresses (left to right): Sally Field, Amy Adams, Jacki Weaver, Anne Hathaway and Helen Hunt

Oscar® nominees Jessica Chastain Amy Adams, Steven Spielberg and Sally Field

Oscar® nominees (from left to right): Ang Lee and Jessica Chastain

Oscar® nominees Jessica Chastain and Steven Spielberg

Oscar® nominee Steven Spielberg is greeted by Academy President Hawk Koch

From left to right) Oscar® nominees Dan Sudick, David France, Andy Nelson, Mark Boal, Epsen Sandberg, Hugh Jackman and Timothy Reckart

Oscar® nominees Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee

Oscar® nominees Joaquin Phoenix and Sally Field

Oscar® nominees Anne Hathaway and Tim Burton

Oscar® nominees Steven Spielberg and Sally Field

Oscar® nominees Bradley Cooper and Christoph Waltz

Oscar® nominees Robert DeNiro and Christoph Waltz

Oscar® nominees Eric Fellner, David O. Russell and Hugh Jackman

Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre™ at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane.  The Oscar presentation will be televised live on the ABC Television Network and in more than 225 countries worldwide.

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All Photos:  ©A.M.P.A.S.