High Fives and a black eye

Scenes from Oscars’ Lunch

The Oscar nominees luncheon brings together A-listers and rising stars - artists from every aspect of filmmaking - for an afternoon of celebration and mutual fandom.

With little on the agenda other than posing for a group photo, Monday’s gathering was a chance for nominees to bask together in their exalted status together before the Academy Awards are presented on March 4.

The atmosphere makes for some fun moments.

First-time acting nominees Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya high-fived at every opportunity. Greta Gerwig and Meryl Streep chatted on the risers before the class photo next to a cardboard cutout of Agnes Varda brought to the event by her “Faces Places” co-director JR.

Gerwig playfully choked best supporting actor nominee Sam Rockwell on the red carpet, and many of the stars and filmmakers exchanged laughs as they assembled - all 170 of them - for the class photo.

The nominee having the most fun was Kobe Bryant, whose “Dear Basketball” is up for animated short. Bryant wore a permanent grin and posed for photos with anyone who asked.

Returning Academy Awards host Jimmy Kimmel has been poking fun at last year’s best picture mix up in promotional spots for this year’s Oscars, but it’s not a laughing matter for some.

Common was looking so dapper Monday for the nominees’ luncheon you could hardly tell he was trying to hide a black eye.

The musician and producer said he was trying to look good after getting beat up on the basketball court this weekend.