Neon has announced that Sean Baker’s latest film, Anora, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, will hit theaters on October 18, 2024. The film, a screwball sex worker comedy, is set to debut in a limited theatrical release, positioning it for potential awards season consideration.
Anora tells the story of a young sex worker from Brooklyn who becomes romantically involved with the son of a Russian oligarch. The relationship, which offers her a shot at a Cinderella story, faces complications when the oligarch’s parents learn of the marriage and travel to New York to annul it. The film is set in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, and stars Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan.
Sean Baker, known for his critically acclaimed films The Florida Project and Red Rocket, continues his exploration of marginalized characters in Anora. Our editor, Naser Nahandian, praised the film in his review, stating, “Anora proves Sean Baker is a masterful storyteller at the top of his craft. With empathy and care, he crafts complex characters that engage our emotions and challenge our perceptions. Mikey Madison turns in a tour de force performance that anchors this vivid, thought-provoking film. Though unflinchingly real in its portrayal of harsh societal truths, Baker locates glimpses of humanity that offer hope. Both darkly funny and deeply moving, Anora deserves recognition as a highly accomplished work of independent cinema.”
Neon has a strong track record of releasing Cannes winners, including Parasite (2019), Triangle of Sadness (2022), and Anatomy of a Fall (2023). The distributor acquired Anora ahead of its Cannes debut, securing global rights through FilmNation.
Baker’s latest work continues his tradition of producing low-budget features that gain critical acclaim and awards recognition. His filmography includes Tangerine (2015), The Florida Project (2017), Red Rocket (2021), and earlier works such as Starlet (2012), Prince of Broadway (2008), Take Out (2004), and Four Letter Words (2000).
Produced by Baker, Samantha Quan, and Alex Coco, Anora is anticipated to be another success for Baker, further cementing his reputation for compelling storytelling centered on unconventional protagonists.
