Anora Sweeps the Oscars as Sean Baker Makes History
The 97th Academy Awards saw Anora dominate the night, winning five major awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for breakout star Mikey Madison. The film, which follows a New York stripper who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch, also earned Sean Baker a record-breaking four Oscars for directing, editing, writing, and producing. Baker became the first person to win four Oscars for a single film for Anora, something no-one else has done in Oscars history.
In her emotional acceptance speech, Madison described the moment as "very surreal," adding that she wanted to "honour and recognise the sex worker community." Baker, meanwhile, used his Best Director win to advocate for the survival of cinemas, calling the theater-going experience a "communal" and "vital part of our culture."
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, his second Oscar in the category since The Pianist in 2003. His speech touched on the "fragile" nature of acting, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue his career. Zoe Saldaña also made history as the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar, taking home Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Kieran Culkin secured Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, thanking director Jesse Eisenberg while playfully teasing that he’d "never say it again."
Other notable winners included Flow, which became the first Latvian film to win Best Animated Feature, and I'm Still Here, which took home Best International Film. Wicked won for Best Production Design and Costume Design, with Paul Tazewell becoming the first Black man to win in the latter category. The Palestinian-Israeli documentary No Other Land won Best Documentary, with its creators making a passionate plea for peace.
The night wasn’t without its challenges—Hulu's live stream cut out for some viewers just before the final awards. Still, the ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, was a celebration of diverse voices and historic achievements, reinforcing Hollywood’s evolving landscape.
