The 97th Academy Awards recognized a mix of independent films and major productions on Sunday. Anora, a dramedy about a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, received five awards, including Best Picture.
Sean Baker won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing for Anora. His recognition marked a rare moment for a filmmaker who has largely worked outside Hollywood’s studio system.
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, playing an architect facing personal and professional struggles. Mikey Madison won Best Actress for Anora, an outcome that many had not expected. Demi Moore (The Substance) was widely predicted to take the award. Madison used her speech to acknowledge the sex worker community, saying, “I will continue to support and be an ally.”
Kieran Culkin won Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain. During his speech, he referenced a promise his wife made after his Emmy win, joking, “Let’s get cracking on those kids.” Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez and spoke about her heritage. “I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last,” she said.
Brazil received its first Oscar for Best International Feature with I’m Still Here, a drama set during the country’s military dictatorship. Flow, an animated feature from Latvia, won in its category, surpassing Inside Out 2 and The Wild Robot.
No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature. Basel Adra, one of the directors, addressed the audience, calling for action on the situation in Palestine.
Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony, adding humor to the night. A tribute segment honored first responders assisting with the wildfires affecting Los Angeles. Another focused on the James Bond franchise following Amazon MGM’s acquisition of creative control. Halle Berry introduced a performance of Bond theme songs, referring to longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson as “the heart and soul of this franchise.”
Baker addressed the state of independent theaters while accepting Best Director. “Movie theaters, especially independently owned theaters, are struggling,” he said. “During the pandemic, we lost 1,000 screens in the U.S., and we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture.”
The full list of winners includes:
Best Picture
Anora
Best Director
Sean Baker, Anora
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Best Actress
Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Supporting Actor
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best International Feature
I’m Still Here (Brazil)
Best Animated Feature
Flow (Latvia)
Best Documentary Feature
No Other Land
Best Original Screenplay
Anora, Sean Baker
Best Adapted Screenplay
Conclave, Peter Straughan
Best Cinematography
The Brutalist, Lol Crawley
Best Film Editing
Anora, Sean Baker
Best Production Design
Wicked, Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales
Best Costume Design
Wicked, Paul Tazewell
Best Makeup & Hairstyling
The Substance, Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, Marilyne Scarselli
Best Sound
Dune: Part Two
Best Visual Effects
Dune: Part Two
Best Original Score
The Brutalist, Daniel Blumberg
Best Original Song
El Mal from Emilia Pérez
Best Live Action Short
I’m Not a Robot
Best Animated Short
In the Shadow of the Cypress
Best Documentary Short
The Only Girl in the Orchestra