American romantic comedy-drama film ‘Anora’ emerged as the undeniable star of the 97th Academy Awards, securing a total of five prestigious Oscars. Directed by Sean Baker, the film triumphed in categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Mikey Madison's powerful portrayal in the lead role also earned her the accolade for Best Actress, solidifying "Anora" as a quintessential success story of the night.
Sean Baker himself made history by becoming the first filmmaker to win four Oscars for the same film, marking a milestone in Academy Award history. The film was nominated for six awards in total.
The awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, unfolded at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and captivated audiences worldwide.
The event was not without its groundbreaking moments. Adrien Brody of ‘The Brutalist’ fame clinched the Best Actor award, achieving a rare 2-for-2 record in this category. Paul Tazewell also etched his name in history books as the first Black man to win an Oscar for Costume Design, recognized for his exceptional work on ‘Wicked’.
Internationally, the Oscars saw diversity shine with notable firsts. Latvian animated feature ‘Flow’ secured the award for Best Animated Feature, while Zoe Saldana became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar for her role in ‘Emilia Pérez’, a Spanish-language film that also claimed accolades.
Spanish-language and French-made film Emilia Perez was the leading contender with 13 nominations. Wicked and The Brutalist followed with 10 nominations each, while ‘Conclave’ and A Complete Unknown had eight nominations apiece.
In India, the awards were streamed live on JioHotstar and aired on Star Movies and Star Movies Select. Streaming beginning at 5:30 AM IST and a repeat telecast will be available at 8:30 PM on Star Movies and Star Movies Select.
The full list of 2025 Oscar winners:
Best picture: Anora
Best director: Sean Baker, ‘Anora’
Best actress: Mikey Madison, ‘Anora’
Best actor: Adrien Brody, ‘The Brutalist’
Best supporting actress: Zoe Saldana, ‘Emilia Pérez’
Best supporting actor: Kieran Culkin, ‘A Real Pain’
Best animated feature: ‘Flow’
Best animated short: ‘In the Shadow of the Cypress’
Best costume design: Paul Tazewell, ‘Wicked’
Best original screenplay: Sean Baker, ‘Anora’
Best adapted screenplay: Peter Straughan, ‘Conclave’
Best makeup and hairstyling: Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli, ‘The Substance’
Best editing: Sean Baker, ‘Anora’
Best production design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales, ‘Wicked’
Best original song: “El Mal” from ‘Emilia Pérez’
Best documentary short: ‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’
Best documentary feature: ‘No Other Land’
Best sound: ‘Dune: Part Two’
Best visual effects: ‘Dune: Part Two’
Best live-action short: ‘I’m Not a Robot’
Best cinematography: Lol Crawley, ‘The Brutalist’
Best international feature: ‘I’m Still Here’ (Brazil)
Best original score: Daniel Blumberg, ‘The Brutalist’