‘Anora’ Shines at the 97th Academy Awards « Euro Weekly News

The run-up to the 2025 Oscar Awards was one of the least clear-cut for many years, but it turned out to be a lot more fun hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Hollywood’s biggest night, the 97th Academy Awards, unfolded on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre, with Sean Baker’s indie gem Anora stealing the spotlight. Hosted by comedian and talkshow presenter Conan O’Brien, the ceremony blended humour that didn’t delve as much into polarising politics as many had predicted. Nonetheless, there were plenty of surprises.

There were standout wins, especially with Anora, a raw tale of a New York sex worker, which dominated with five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sean Baker, and Best Actress for Mikey Madison. Baker’s acceptance speech championed independent cinema and the theatre experience, earning him a standing ovation.

Oscars not all about Anora

Meanwhile, The Brutalist, a 215-minute epic, scored three wins, with Adrien Brody claiming Best Actor for his portrayal of a Holocaust survivor architect, nicely rounding off the awards season for him after his Golden Globes sweep.

Conclave, by Edward Berger, had to settle for Best Script, adapted from a Robert Harris’ novel. And so did Emilia Pérez, by Jacques Audiard, despite its 16 record nominations, which left with a pair of statuettes for supporting actress Zoe Saldaña and the song El Mal.

O’Brien’s sharp wit kept the night lively, poking fun at everything from Taco Bell to the wildfires’ impact, which saw the nominees’ luncheon cancelled and voting extended.

2024’s acting winners – Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Da’Vine Joy Randolph – presented, joined by stars Halle Berry and Oprah Winfrey. No Other Land won Best Documentary, while Flow made history as Latvia’s first Oscar victory in animation.

Tributes paid to LA’s firefighters

Apart from all the glitz, the ceremony honoured LA’s rescue workers, with Academy leaders Bill Kramer and Janet Yang framing it as a night of healing. Anora’s triumph signalled a bold embrace of indie storytelling, leaving attendees buzzing about cinema’s evolving future.

The standout wins were Best picture: Anora; Best actress: Mikey Madison; ‘Anora’; Best actor: Adrian Brody, ‘The Brutalist’; Best supporting actor: Kieran Culkin, ‘A Real Pain’; Best supporting actress: ‘Zoe Saldaña’, ‘Emilia Pérez’; Best director: Sean Baker, ‘Anora’; Best cinematography: ‘The Brutalist,’ Lol Crawley; Best animated feature: ‘Flow’.