Margot Robbie was there, Ryan Gosling came too. But Messi became the star at the traditional luncheon hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) every year before the Oscars. The border collie (“Snoop”) who plays a border collie (“Snoop”) in the legal drama “Anatomy of a Case”, which was nominated for five Golden Knights, didn't just walk the red carpet in a blue bow tie.

The pooch, named Best Movie Dog at the Cannes Film Festival last May, made moviegoers forget about him (Bradley Cooper) and her (America Ferrera) in a cocktail dress on Monday in Beverly. Hilton Hotel ) or scratch your chin (Billie Eilish).

Justine Triet, the French director of Anatomy of a Case, said: “It's crazy, but Messi seems to be much better known here than in France.” Although Messi cannot expect to win a trophy at the Oscars on March 10, it is true that Triet was the favorite in the “Best Director” category.

Thuringian Sandra Hülser, who was nominated for her role in the legal drama Triet, will compete for best actress at the 96th Academy Awards against Emma Stone (“Poor Things”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Annette. Bening (“Nyad”) and Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”).

Before things get serious at Hollywood's Dolby Theater in just under four weeks, the Beverly Hills traditional luncheon was quite lively. When AMPAS boss Janet Yang warned nominees in the 23 categories to keep their acceptance speeches to no longer than 45 seconds and to appear at the Oscars on March 10 at 4pm instead of the usual 5pm, there were always laughs.

As is customary at the Film Academy luncheons, the organizers mixed the table groups with filmmakers from different categories and productions to facilitate getting to know each other. During the vegetarian meal, when some of the nominees and non-nominees were introduced via video, applause broke out again and again.

The biggest applause went to Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig, who missed out on the Best Actress and Best Director categories for the fantasy film “Barbie,” but can hope for Oscars as co-producer (Robbie) and screenwriter (Gerwig). Oppenheimer-nominated Robert Downey Jr. and The Holdovers-nominated Paul Giamatti were also celebrated almost as fiercely as their four-legged counterparts Messi before Hollywood's biggest night.