Oscar nominees attend Academy luncheon: See the 2014 class photo

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Each year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists invites its Oscar nominees to a luncheon celebrating their achievements, before winners are announced at the actual ceremony.

This year, the 86th annual Academy Awards' nominees gathered at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Monday. More than 150 of them, including Amy Adams, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Martin Scorsese and Bono, attended the event, even posing for an impressively large class photo (click here for a closer look).

According to The Wrap, 12 Years a Slave star Lupita Nyong’o, Dallas Buyers Club's Matthew McConaughey, director Martin Scorsese and Prisoners cinematographer Roger Deakin got the loudest reception from the press conference-style event.

“We have six nominations for this little film we never thought we’d get made," McConaughey reportedly told his peers. "Getting it made was such a huge victory, and all of the sudden now we have a real presence here. That surprised me. I’ve had a good time. I had heard how laborious [awards season] could be. I have not found it laborious. It is a lot to do and places to be but I think I could talk about my experience as Ron Woodroof and this film until the day I die without getting too exhausted."

"There is no way I could have dreamt any of this stuff," Nyong'o said. "It has been an incredible journey, a very exciting, rewarding and revealing adventure. Everybody regards the Oscars as the ultimate stamp of approval. It is a humbling experience to have so many people embrace you and identify with you. That’s the beauty of film. It brings people closer together.“

The nominees also got to collect their official nomination certificate and a sweatshirt that reads, "Oscar Nominee," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Flip through the slideshow above for photos from the event's red carpet.

[The Wrap, EW, THR]