The 97th Oscars handed out an evening of shocks, victories and record-breaking wins, as Anora came out as the greatest victor. The Sean Baker-directed low-budget drama claimed the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Mikey Madison and Best Original Screenplay awards, affirming its reign at the grand event.
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Anora’s Historic Win
Sean Baker, with his unapologetic and experiential approach to filmmaking, set the benchmark high with Anora, which left critics and viewers deeply impressed. Its multi-win success marks a rise in awareness of independent film among mainstream Hollywood.
Adrien Brody’s Triumphant Return
Another significant top highlight of the evening was Adrien Brody’s Best Actor award in The Brutalist. His raw acting in the architectural drama was his return to glory at the Oscars, more than two decades since his initial Academy Award in The Pianist.
Other Significant Wins and Upsets
Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldaรฑa (Emilia Pรฉrez) took home Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
Brazilโs Iโm Still Here secured Best International Feature, beating strong European contenders.
Flow triumphed over Inside Out 2 for Best Animated Feature, signalling a shift in animated storytelling.
Conclave, written by Peter Straughan, won Best Adapted Screenplay.
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Technical and Musical Achievements
The evening also witnessed Dune: Part Two sweeping the Best Visual Effects and Best Sound categories, with Best Cinematography and Best Original Score going to The Brutalist. The much-awaited musical film adaptation of Wicked dazzled the Best Costume Design and Best Production Design categories, showcasing its visual extravaganza.
At the same time, Best Original Song was awarded to El Mal by Emilia Pรฉrez, affirming the musical’s hold on this year’s Oscars. Horror-thriller The Substance, which stars Demi Moore, took Best Makeup and Hairstyling, continuing to affirm its status as a genre-bending film.
A Year of Bold Cinema
The 2025 Oscars marked a turn toward unapologetic, unconventional storytelling, with independent films such as Anora at the forefront. This year’s winners honour diversity in genre, voice and vision, and demonstrate that the future of cinema is in the hands of risk-takers and storytellers willing to push against the norm.
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