On Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, the Academy Museum Gala made a glamorous return to Los Angeles, showcasing its customary Hollywood grandeur.

Now in its third year, the annual gala featured prominent figures from the film industry, including renowned movie stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, and Robert Downey Jr. Esteemed auteurs like J.J. Abrams and Greta Gerwig graced the event, alongside recent Oscar winners like Ke Huy Quan and the 2023 honorary Oscar recipient, Angela Bassett. Cochaired by Academy Award–nominated director Ava DuVernay, Academy Museum trustee Dr Eric Esrailian (a physician, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur), Academy Award–winning actor Halle Berry, and Academy Museum trustee Ryan Murphy (a screenwriter, director, and producer), the evening marked a significant gathering in Hollywood. Notably, it was the first major event since the conclusion of the strikes, bringing together actors, writers, directors, studio heads, and more. The gala successfully raised over $10 million.

With Vogue’s Lisa Love at the helm of the gala’s creative direction, it’s no wonder that fashion played a role almost as significant as the film industry itself. Notable figures like Carolyn Murphy and Amber Valletta praised Hari Nef’s bold Mugler ensemble, while dinner companions Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner added to the evening’s star-studded allure. Karlie Kloss and Lauren Santo Domingo led a contingent of New Yorkers, temporarily in town for the event, and Kaia Gerber brought her twist to early Barbie-core with a custom Celine polka dot outfit, accentuated by Tiffany’s engagement diamond worn as a pinky ring. The glamour extended beyond Hollywood, as even Nicolas Ghesquière journeyed from Paris, accompanied by a cadre of Louis Vuitton ambassadors. Ghesquière found a nostalgic connection to an earlier phase of his career when he spotted Taylour Paige donning one of his 2008 creations for Balenciaga.

The dinner unfolded on the museum’s breathtaking open-air terrace, magically converted into the wood-panelled dining ambience reminiscent of Chasen’s restaurant—a bygone icon from Hollywood’s golden era, now replaced by a Hollywood Regency-era Bristol Farms. The evening’s program featured esteemed presenters and honorees such as Ava DuVernay, Oprah, Chloe Zhao, Coppola, Christopher Nolan, and Jamila Jordan, representing Michael B. Jordan. The pinnacle of the night came as Greta Gerwig bestowed the final Icon Award upon the legendary Meryl Streep.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUNTER ABRAMS