Oscars lunch: From Kobe Bryant tributes to Leonardo DiCaprio bringing his dad, what happened at the star-studded event

Ahead of the Academy Awards on February 10, Hollywood stars met to celebrate the nominations at an Oscars lunch in Los Angeles on Monday.

With actors including Brad Pitt, Florence Pugh and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance, the star-studded event started on a sombre note as guests paid tribute to 2018 Oscar-winner Kobe Bryant.

According to journalists in attendance, Academy Awards president David Rubin led a moment of silence at the start of the lunch.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg reported that he said, “We should take this moment to acknowledge Kobe Bryant, 2018 Oscar winner... he was probably the most excited person to be in the room as an Oscar nominee.”

Bryant, who passed away with his 13-year-old daughter Gia in a helicopter crash on Sunday , won an Oscar in 2018 for his animated short Dear Basketball.

Following that, this year’s Oscars nominees in attendance were then asked to take a bow.

Guests who came to the lunch, including Brad Pitt, Florence Pugh, director Bong Joon-Ho, Laura Dern and others would have been asked to bow as they’re on this year’s docket.

Many of the stars took the chance to catch up with one another, with Brad Pitt seen chatting with Harriet star Cynthia Erivo.

In the background, Academy Awards CEO Dawn Hudson was all of us as she watched on admiringly. Pitt was dressed in a taupe suit, but opted against a tie for a more casual daytime look.

His onscreen partner in crime Leonardo DiCaprio also attended the lunch in a slick black suit, keeping his sunglasses on for the photocall.

DiCaprio’s father, writer George DiCaprio, was his plus one. In a candid moment, DiCaprio was seen grinning as his father spoke to another guest at the event.

Erivo was easily one of the most colourful people at the lunch in a green patterned coat and glasses, which she contrasted with a bright red lip.

She was also one of the most popular in the room, as she and stars including Charlize Theron, Florence Pugh and Renee Zellweger were all seen talking and laughing.

Zellweger gave the men in the room a run for their money, as she dressed in a sharp black suit with the jacket slung over her shoulders.

Theron and Zellweger also posed for a photo together.

Florence Pugh stepped out in a tangerine one-shouldered dress. Pugh is nominated for her role in Little Women this year.

Laura Dern, who plays Pugh’s onscreen mother, channelled her Little Women character in a ruffled white blouse paired with a red leather dress - a modern take on Prairie chic.

Robert De Niro, who recently starred in Netflix's The Irishman, was also seen mingling with other stars at the event.

Directors Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite) and JoJo Rabbit’s Taika Waititi were seen goofing off for the cameras and Joon-Ho later introduced Waititi to his Parasite cast members.

Little Women director Greta Gerwig also attended the event with her partner Noah Baumbach, who directed Marriage Story.

The couple have both been nominated for various Oscars this years, with Gerwig earning a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay and Baumbach for Best Picture.

Director Edgar Wright didn't attend the event but he shared a picture of Bong Joon-Ho, Rian Johnson, director Sam Mendes and Academy Awards CEO Dawn Hudson all flipping off the camera.

Wright tweeted, "One@rianjohnsonjust sent me this photo ‘sent with love’ from my friends at the pre Oscars luncheon. Can I ask @TheAcademy​ to take away their nominations please. Thank you x"

In a follow up tweet, he added, "In unrelated news I’m voting for Tarantino or Baumbach for Best Original Screenplay. Unsure which. But one of those two almost certainly."

Johnson clarified the picture for him and the gesture, explaining, "That's an American gesture that means 'wish you were here'."

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s Quentin Tarantino looked casual in jeans and a bowling shirt. He was seen signing film posters alongside Brad Pitt.